Hairspray

On a bright rainbow coloured set, complete with bold geometric shapes, the company instantly took those of us of a certain age back to the 1960’s. The production fizzed with energy from the opening “Good Morning Baltimore” to the closing “You Can’t Stop The Beat”. Sophie McCann was outstanding as teenager Tracy Turnblad willing to stand-up to segregation on her way to reach her dreams. She had excellent singing, dancing and acting skills. Lewis Moggach, as her mother Edna, too gave an excellent performance portraying the change from frumpy housewife to bold entrepreneur beautifully. I particularly liked the duet “You’re Timeless To Me” with her husband Wilbur, played by the ever-resourceful Ewan Campbell, filled equally with laughter and pathos. Playing the baddie is always fun and Mallory Peter, as the pushy producer and stage mother Velma Von Tussle, took full advantage of this delivering sarcastic comments and put-downs with gusto. As did Eilidh Henderson as her ambitious daughter Amber. June Cranna, as soul mother Motormouth Maybelle, gave a very strong performance delivering good advice to the revolutionary youngsters. Her delivery of “I Know Where I’ve Been” was particularly moving. Aicha Sutcliffe, as her dance loving son Seaweed J Stubbs, was another youngster who gave such a strong performance it took some time to realise this male role was being played by a girl. The growing love between Sea J and Tracy’s shy pigtail twisting friend Penny Lou Pingleton, played beautifully by Andrea Thomson, was sensitively portrayed. Brodie Murray, as Tracy’s love interest Link Larkin, looked every inch the teen idol in this his first stage role. Strong support was given by Colin Black as the vibrant TV show host Corny Collins and by Claire Hellings as Penny’s controlling mother Prudy Pingleton. Special mention must be made of young Lily Chaplin as Little Inez – one to look out for in the future! The ensemble singing and dancing were of an extremely high standard and were expertly backed by Hugh Johnstone and his 13 piece orchestra. Congratulations to all for an excellent, fun-filled evening.

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