Mike as Edna

Our namesake the U.K. singing star is on stage in London again. This time, he's in a fat suit.

Michael plays the mom, Edna Turnblad, in Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

The Financial Times review includes:

Michael Ball as her mother Edna is grotesque because s/he is basically a pantomime dame in a fat suit (all those costume changes!), and moreover is filling the shoes of the late Divine, whose entire career was founded on bad taste...However, in every other respect, this is one of those pesky shows that absolutely refuses to be disliked. Ball is terrific as Edna Turnblad; he relishes the "draggier" moments (the extravagant frocks, the sudden drop to basso for a word or two), but also knows how and when to - well, I hesitate to use the word "underplay" of a show like this.

This Michael is trim and must be pretty comfortable with himself to take the role. Good on him.

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Tags: manymikes, singer, London, Hairspray