The more I see HAIRSPRAY the better it gets. The current tour has arrived at the Wales Millennium Centre this week on what now feels like an annual visit to South Wales. It’s a big show, with a big message, and some of the biggest, brightest feel-good songs you’ll find in any musical, which probably accounts for it selling out every time it arrives here.
The show has had many incarnations over the years, most recently the London West-End production with Michael Ball and Marisha Wallace, which we have also seen. So the question is, can the Hairspray UK Tour deliver everything we saw on the West-End stage? The answer is a big yes, and some too.
In fact, I’d go as far as saying, the WMC can rival (or beat) any West End venue. And of course we are the best audience, as we saw last night. The reaction at the end of the show was incredible. Within a second we were all on our feet, clapping and singing along as the cast took their bow.
Which seems like a great place to start. Here’s what some of the audience thought of this current production. We also spoke to three of the show stars; ALEXANDRA EMMERSON-KIRBY (Tracy Turnblad), NEIL HURST (Edna Turnblad) and SOLOMON DAVY who plays Link Larkin.
Hairspray seems to have the ability to find talent and allow them to shine in the best possible way. As Alexandra said in our interview, this is her debut professional role and boy has she really settled into it.
On the last tour the role of Tracy was played by another professional newcomer, Katie Brace, so kudos to the producers for searching out new talent and getting them into these big roles.
Alexandra is everything you’d want in Tracy. She’s bright, bubbly and her enthusiasm makes her a perfect Tracy Turnblad. Her voice too filled the Donald Gordon theatre aided by a first rate band. Under the Musical Supervision of BEN ATKINSON they blew the roof off last night and got a well deserved cheer during the curtain call.
The show is all about the dancing too, and this is a company who can really shake it. The story centres around Tracy and her best friend Penny Pingleton, played by the amiable FREYA MCMAHON, who have great chemistry together. They are obsessed with the Corny Collins (DECLAN EGAN) show and Tracy is determined to make it onto TV, despite the challenges and issues everyone else seems to have.
The show has a few great pairings, including Tracy’s Mum Edna, played by NEIL HURST and Dad Wilbur with DERMOT CANAVAN stepping into the role. You may have seen Edna played by a few actors, either on stage or in the movie, but Neil really does bring something different to his performance.
You may well have seen him at the New Theatre last November in The Full Monty (review here) – in fact you may have seen a little more of Neil than you will in this production.
It’s very easy to portray Edna as a pantomime dame, but she is far from that, and is a key part to the story, coming with her own issues. Neil delivers on all fronts and when he/she and Dermot are on stage together, it’s a sheer delight.
The stand out routine for the two of them is the duet ‘You’re Timeless To Me’ with Wilbur telling Edna why she is the one for him, with words verging on insults – it’s sweet and romantic, but incredibly funny.
Just to see the two of them side by side sets you off giggling. Neil is a very imposing Edna and Dermot a not so tall Wilbur. The routine is not only a joy to watch, but is one of the few moments when the story breaks and allows the audience to be a part of the show – okay yes, a little like pantomime, but incredibly sweet and funny.
The show itself is set in 1962 where everyone’s grooving to a brand-new sound! Enter our vivacious heroine Tracy Turnblad, who has big hair, a big heart, and big dreams to dance her way onto national TV, and into the heart of teen idol Link Larkin, played by ROSS CLIFTON. When Tracy becomes a local star, she is able to use her newfound fame to fight for liberation, tolerance, and interracial unity in Baltimore. But can she win equality – and Link’s heart – without denting her ‘do?
Don’t for one minute be fooled by the glitz and glamour of the show, the message is a powerful one, relevant back then, but as much now too.
Tracy begins fighting for racial equality and inclusion in Baltimore, along the way she meets Motormouth Maybelle, played by MICHELLE NDEGWA.
As a character, Maybel isn’t on stage all that much, but when she is, Michelle brings a power and some incredible vocals to the show. You will come out remembering her performance, particularly during ‘I Know Where I’ve Been’ a show-stopping moment where Maybel is joined by half of the company, singing this song of struggle and determination while looking straight into Tracy’s eyes. It really is one of the stand out moments in the production.
When the show came to Cardiff last year it was BRENDA EDWARDS who played the role of Maybelle. She hasn’t left the show behind, in fact far from it. In this new production Brenda is co-directing with Paul Kerryson (Chicago, Sweeney Todd).
As you can above, this is a big cast and they really fill the Donald Gordon stage in a multi-functional, ever changing set. Whether all the cast are performing, or you have quieter solo moments, it really is very effective.
The company is so strong, and I feel really bad highlighting just a few names. Everybody in this show is off the chart good, and they all bring something to the production.
I must however give credit to REECE RICHARDS who plays an excellent Seaweed. He brings a gentle warmth and kindness to the role, with some really outstanding vocals, and boy can he dance. GINA MURRAY plays Velma Von Tussle and delivers every bit of the pushy mother and hard-nosed TV producer, and boy can she belt out a song.
The costumes are every bit as extravagant as you’d expect, and the use of the rear-projection is really effective, particularly during Maybels’ stand out routine.
The songs are iconic, and you will be singing along from the first beat of Good Morning Baltimore and with some of the biggest and most iconic musical numbers, including Welcome To The 60s and You Can’t Stop The Beat, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear.
The red hot band who we get to see during a lot of the show will have you tapping your feet to those show-stopper numbers. And the dancing is relentless with choreography by DREW MCONIE putting the cast (and us) through our paces.
If you do want to brush up on the steps to You Can’t Stop The Beat, Drew has got a comprehensive tutorial right HERE.
But never forget this is a show which dips into some really heavy stuff – bullying, racism, body shaming and more, but it’s all done in a light-hearted manner.
A friend of mine who was responsible for the whole Band Aid/Live Aid project said to me that if you entertain people and make them smile, the messages you’re delivering sticks so much stronger. That’s exactly how they do it in Hairspray. You will laugh, sing and no doubt be on your feet for a little dance, but you will also walk away understanding the seriousness of the story.
With Hairspray you know exactly what you’re going to get. Even after all this time, and through many reincarnations, you still feel the show is fresh and relevant.
Did we like it – I think that goes without saying. This is one of the shows you can take the kids, Mum, Dad, Gran and Grandpa along too, knowing they will all have a great time, no matter what their age.
HAIRSPRAY is only here for the rest of the week, so you’ll need to get your tickets fast – and they are limited availability at some performances. The tour is at Wales Millennium Centre from through to Saturday 3rd August. You can get more details and tickets HERE
