Hairspray

Hairspray    Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society (KPAOS)

Little Theatre, Leicester         November 2025

 

The Show

Hairspray is an interesting musical. First produced in 2002, at one level it’s an entertaining show about a starstruck girl getting into TV and falling in love with one of its stars. But it’s far more. Set firmly in the US 1960’s, even to the extent of some then-topical 1960’s references, the story addresses a major issue of the era, racial segregation in the US and the girl’s efforts to change the popular teenage tv dance show into an inclusive environment.

To work effectively at both these levels, Hairspray needs skilful direction and a talented cast. In this enjoyable and absorbing production before a sell-out and enthusiastic audience, KPAOS demonstrated both.

The Direction

The production was directed by local director Joshua Taylor-Williams. Joshua’s experience was evident. The show moved at a lively and sustained pace, telling the story through well-presented performances. In achieving this, the production was supported by an excellent Orchestra under Musical Director Reece Crane. The out of sight band supported the fast-moving show admirably, faultlessly adding to the energetic performance on stage.

The performances were enhanced by impressive choreography, performed by all the cast. A major credit to Choreographer Jade Afflick-Goodall for the well-drilled and coordinated movement, completely in keeping with the spirit of the show. A real treat to see such accomplished and enthusiastic company dance numbers.

Costumes, coordinated by Cara Gibson, were attractive, colourful and appropriate to the show’s setting, including the flamboyant appearances of Mum Turnblad and Motormouth Maybelle towards the end of the show.

The production was well-supported by skilful stage management. Scenery was moved quickly and unobtrusively by cast members. Lighting, including effective follow-spots, was atmospheric, and Sound nicely controlled. Congratulations to Stage Manager Nadine Hall and her back-stage team including Tom Brooks (Sound) and Andy Crooks (Lighting) for the smooth and effective technical support.

 

The characters

The central character in Hairspray is Tracy Turblad, the star-struck teenager played in this production by Ellie Barratt, who gave the show a bright opening with Good Morning, Baltimore. Ellie convincingly portrayed the young girl obsessed with TV personalities. She gave us comedy, dance, lively and emotional songs and commitment to the character’s conflicting ambitions of being famous while working to achieve a fair society in a mixed-race community.

Tracy’s close friend Penny Pingleton was performed with great physical comedy by Natasha Ann Carr. In a contrast to her strongly played lead character in the KPAOS 2024 production Beautiful, the role of Penny gave Natasha a chance to show her considerable comedic talent.

It’s customary for the comedy part of Edna (Mum Turnblad) to be played by a male performer. Matt Brown - a ‘larger-than-life’ Edna – gave us the character’s fun, amusingly convincing as a hard-working woman, while avoiding the easy trap of playing Edna as a ‘pantomime dame’. Edna’s interactions with daughter Tracy were affectionately supportive, while her partnership with husband Wilbur affectionately light-hearted.

Wilbur was played by Alex Thompson with a sensitive and effective comedy, expressing dedication to wife Edna and fatherly support to daughter Tracy, while at the same time attempting to launch his own commercial ambition of a global chain of joke shops. One of the musical highlights of the show was Wilbur & Edna’s hilarious You’re Timeless to Me duet.

The would-be heart-throb singing star Link Larkin was played by KPAOS newcomer Jude Major. Jude coped well with the two aspects of this character: the ambitious tv personality and the faithful & supportive boyfriend. His strong singing voice was put to great effect in It Takes Two, and his evident dancing ability a valuable part of the big company numbers.

Also strong as dancer, singer and actor was Rosie Chalmers as Amber Von Tussle, attractively and convincingly playing the ambitious, self-confident and petulant tv beauty who, determined to win both Link Larkin and the ‘Miss Teenage Hairspray’ crown, ends up losing both. Another of the show’s musical treats was Amber, Tracy, Penny and their three mothers’ great company number Mama I’m A Big Girl Now.

Amber’s mother, Velma, is in effect the ‘villainess’ of the story, a tv producer scheming to push Amber to become the star she herself never was. Hannah McCourt gave the character the right level of devious and callous determination, reminding everyone of her lifetime achievement as  ‘Miss Baltimore Crabs’.

Jade Afflick-Goodall appeared impressively as the ‘big, blonde & beautiful’ local community leader and organiser of ‘Negro Day’, Motormouth Maybelle, who convinces a disenchanted Tracy that to achieve change you must keep on trying. Her great song I know where I’ve been was another ensemble highlight.

Motormouth’s son, Seaweed, was played with enthusiasm by the excellent Lewis Shaw, whose singing, dancing and infectious personality conveyed the warmth of the character.

In other principal roles, vocally-strong and camera-genic Conor Izzard was entertainingly believable as Corny Collins the lead singer on the teenage pop show; Lucy Vickery suitably  severe as Prudy Pingleton, Penny’s strict and domineering mother, and Martin Bell convincing as a worried tv show sponsor concerned only for the success and public acceptability of his sponsored show.

A strong and energetic company, the youngest of which were Sophia Pirie and Yvae Rawle, who at alternate performances played Little Inez, Seaweed’s young sister. At the performance I saw, the part was played charmingly and very effectively by Sophia, who showed her performing talent in Run and Tell That in Act 1. Having read in the informative show programme of Yvae’s youth theatre experience, I’ve no doubt her performances as Inez were equally entertaining.

It was nice to have a chance for a good chat with Director Joshua, Costume Coordinator Cara, and some of the cast after the show. Thank you, KPAOS, for an enjoyable evening and for the very nice welcome. My wife and I look forward to Guys & Dolls in 2026.

Colin Blackler

Noda              November 2025                                

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