Hairspray`

Hairspray is a real “feel good factor” of a show with some great songs, dialogue and an extremely meaningful storyline about prejudices and here was one of the best productions of it I have seen for some time.

We all know the story of Tracy Turnblad who is a larger than life young lady who strives to be one of the gang and appear on TV, especially in The Corny Collins Show where she is in love with Link Larkin, one of the singers.

Lucy May Cooper was excellent in this part right from the word go, her singing, dancing and acting was second to none and when she teamed up with her best friend Penny Pingleton played by Lucie’s own sister, Ellie Jo Cooper it was pure magic.

Both Lucy and Ellie made these parts their own especially when they sang Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now together with their respective mums, Edna Turnblad and Trudy Pingleton played by Karl Brennan and Beverly Jacques respectively plus Amber Von Tussle, Amy Oliver and her mum Velma Von Tussle, Sue Higgins it was brilliant.

All three young girls were able to display their fine acting abilities with Amy portraying a very vindictive Amber who wants to move onwards and upwards no matter what or who she upsets.

I mentioned above Karl Brennan who played Edna, an oversized “mother” figure who only wants best for her daughter. Karl was excellent as usual and when he joined forces with Cev Barker as her long-suffering husband, Wilbur to sing You’re Timeless to Me it was brilliant and loved by every member of the audience.

Sue Higgins was a typical “stage mum” doing everything in her power to make sure he daughter Amber was rocketed to the top by whatever means she could lay her hands on, Sue was able to deliver the goods with this part as was Beverley Jacques as Trudy Pingleton, both being able to make their parts their own.

We all know the story revolves around The Corny Collins Show and the title role was in the more than capable hands of Ryan Mitchell, his fine singing and cheesy rapport was perfect for the part as was Marcus Roebuck in the part of Link Larkin who was loved by everyone both on and off the stage.

One of the lessons in this show is that of racial prejudice against the black people on the other side of town, again we had some really good characterisations from Casey Heeley as Seaweed, Charlie Sidebottom and Little Inez and a newcomer to the stage, Claire Winder as Motormouth Mabel. To say Claire was good in this part was an understatement, she was great and when she sang, I Know Where I’ve Been it almost brought the house down.

Throughout the show there is a trio of young girls who spring up as a backing group for various songs, these are The Dynamites and were played expertly by Nicole Footit, Jodie Sidebottom and Rebecca Hall.

The whole show culminates with everyone singing the hit number, You Can’t Stop the Beat, and this was something they could not stop with everyone in the auditorium tapping away to the beat of the of this first-rate production.

Congratulations to everyone involved especially Director Julie Whitfield, MD Iain Price and Choreographer Sue Higgins.

 

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