Harvey Fierstein appeared on Watch What Happens Live earlier this week to chat with Andy Cohen, ahead of opening night of his Torch Song on Broadway November 1.
A caller asked Fierstein which role was harder to get into drag: Edna in Hairpsray or Albin in La Cage Aux Folles. 鈥�La Cage I wrote, and I didn鈥檛 write it for myself. I never saw myself do it,鈥� said Fierstein, 鈥渂ut when I got to do it I had the most wonderful time. I found lines that Arthur Laurents had cut out and I said, 鈥業鈥檓 putting that back in!鈥�
鈥淓dna's Edna,鈥� he added fondly. 鈥淓dna is !鈥� referring to the annual Christmas ornament designed to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Speaking of Hairspray, another caller wanted to know how Fierstein would rate John Travolta鈥檚 performance of Edna in the 2007 movie adaptation. 鈥淚 never seen it,鈥� he admitted. 鈥淚 just cash the checks.鈥�
Fierstein is a Tony-winning writer for the original Torch Song Trilogy as well as the book to La Cage Aux Folles. He is also a Tony-winning actor for the former and for the aforementioned Hairspray, playing Edna Turnblad鈥攁 role he reprised in 2016 for Hairspray: Live!. Fierstein has also earned Tony nominations for penning Casa Valentina, Kinky Boots, and Disney鈥檚 Newsies.
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