And speaking of
Hairspray, I have a question. My ex-boyfriend (with whom I am still friends

) is from Pakistan (he's lived in the States since 1986) understands that the part of Edna in the movie was originally played by Divine (Harris Glen Milstead). However, when the musical came out (no pun intended

)...opened on Broadway, he couldn't understand
at all why they would cast a man as the mother. I told him that that was how the movie was done and that (probably) Harvey Fierstein was such a dynamic actor that they decided to continue the conceit of having a man play the woman's role. First of all, does that make sense? Secondly, he still didn't get it. Every once in a while when we get together (we're still very good friends), I'll make some reference to the show and he'll ask (yet again) why did they cast a man in the woman's role. Can anyone give me an answer that I can tell my ex? Something that will be a little more convincing than just "because they can"??