Hairspray

As usual, this Club’s Junior Section show fell in the same week as the NODA Scotland Conference weekend at Peebles, meaning that the opening night was my only opportunity to attend, but what an excellent production it turned out to be.  Lots of action from Vincent and Carolyn in their first appointments with the society, and the hard work of rehearsals paid off for the singing also.  My only adverse comment is to the originators of the piece, whose definite instruction of no ‘colouring of anyone’s face’ was a drawback to my total enjoyment of what was, to me, an unknown, unseen, story.  Possibly if I had seen the film, apparently widely shown, I might have known better which performers were portraying those of Afro-American race, but I spent the first act working out who was which. How they can write in a man playing a woman (Declan Hillan as Edna) but not allow make-up to clarify the story escapes me.

Brianna Jolly (Tracy) as the one barred by prejudice from dancing on the TV show, worked well, as did her male friend Graeme McKay (Seaweed Stubbs).  Lucy Cusick (Amber) as the spoilt brat daughter of similarly prejudiced TV Producer Velma (Megan Hillan) showed just how nasty people could be, racially.  Calum Fraser (Corny Collins, TV show host willing to integrate the performers) and Rachel Murray (Motormouth Maybelle, TV hostess extraordinaire for the coloureds) also showed strength as those wanting to integrate.  A tremendous plot, well-portrayed by this group, except for my confusion sorting out the who’s-who early on.  The full audience obviously enjoyed it, though, and “You can’t stop the Beat” had them on their feet at the end.  Another triumph for this hard-working Society.

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