Hairspray

I must congratulate the production team for DOSYTCo of Chris Dilley (Director), Helen Cowie (Musical Director) and Jodie Quirke (Choreographer) for the inspiration and work put in to produce this amazing, sizzling and energetic, slick and fast production. The period touches all done with great attention to detail, particularly costumes and wigs. With 47 in the cast this was quite an achievement to get this degree of polish in all departments and still give this great feel of energy and enthusiasm in strong vocals and fast dance routines throughout the performance. The casting was excellent and capitalised on the talent throughout whatever the size or age of these 7-18 year-olds.
 Interesting and innovative introduction and explanation pre-performance by the ‘should be black’ members of the cast with their message regarding anti-segregation with the placards and their singing of the suitable ‘blues’ music: understand it was determined by the members of that sub-section of the cast.
 Into the TV studio for a very strong performance of Corry Collins by Ollie Ludman, style and great vocals in the role and the pre-show. Add amazingly focussed, stylish, dance and vocalised excellently, characters and relationships: the Velma from Olivia Dolman and the Amber of Daisy Barrett were just so good and so professional. Plus the role of Link from Jordan Quirke as the ‘star’ in the studio, plus his relationship with Tracy, well executed with style. The four Dynamites backing group gave a well drilled performance in song and dance, well synchronised (Chloe Hunt, Maisie Dolman, Ellie Jones, Jess Biggam), looked good.
 Into the home, Natasha Scollay (even better than last year as Adelaide) as Tracy excelled with her personality, the vocals, the dance, and all those inter-relationships, what a realisation of the role. Liked her friendship and interactions with a very strong performance of Penny from Sophie Ebery-Large. As Edna, Declan Matwij (first role with DOSYTCo) had no right to have that timing and personality, plus the vocals and style and character interactions with the rest of the cast, was this really played by a ‘first-timer youngster’, quite outstanding. And in the comedy mood, the timing and feelings of Tom Jones as Wilbur were perfect. One should not ignore the excellent support roles of Mr Pinky from Joseph Chapman or the irate mother Prudy of Ellie Davison.
 To the record shop and the dark side of the cast, what a performance put in by Avalon Murfet as Motormouth, the style and rendition of the vocals were quite special from her both in the show and the pre-show scores, and a personality plus performance to showcase the vocals. As Seaweed, Alfie Mazzei added to the expectation of his strength in vocals and performance over last year (and grown several inches), and Sophie Chapman as Little Inez just amazed with her projection of songs as well as the dancing.
However good all the principals, this is a Company show and needs a well balanced team of characters plus all the supporting team to work in balance and this did in style. The energy and slickness of the dance routines showed how much effort had gone into the rehearsals (Olivia Dolman as Dance Captain when Jodie away at work), and they all knew the routines, even the tiniest 7-year-old boy. The strength and energy of all the vocal numbers just envigorated the company into a stratospheric enthusiasm which flashed with the audience into the reception that was deserved. An amazing evening and I appreciated the comment in the programme that for every child on stage, there was an adult somewhere in a support team, a big commitment for all.

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