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August 16, 2002

IF life were everything it should be — that is, if life were more like the endearing new musical called ”Hairspray” that opened last night at the Neil Simon Theater — your every waking thought would be footnoted by a chorus of backup singers of early 60’s vintage. You know, the kind who always come up with helpful bons mots like ”ow-oot” and ”bop-be-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba,” whether the lead singer’s heart is breaking or quaking.

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