Theatre Review: Hairspray - Edinburgh Playhouse ✭✭✭✭
Edinburgh Playhouse
Review by Danielle Shields
Watching Hairspray is like entering the ideal
American movie where eternally optimistic plastic cheerleaders have the power
to dilute conflict with a fist full of pom-poms and a singing chant. The
uplifting melodies and energetic performances are flawless in the musical,
making it a fantastic method to escape from the brooding autumn weather which
has begun crying from the skies.
The
swinging sixties of 1962 never seemed more perfect than in Baltimore where
innocent and loving Tracy Turnblad (Freya Sutton) dreams of a life of dancing.
Her big hair does little to detract from her big body in the eyes of
blonde-headed producer Velma Von Tussle, however, this doesn’t stop Tracy from winning a
desirable dancer position on the pop culture music and dance live TV show, The Corny Collins Show. Turnblad wishes
to take her aspirations to the next level by making every day Negro Day. She
becomes the leader of a campaign to break down segregation rules with the aim
of making every race allowed to perform on the white dominated TV show.
For those
who are familiar with the 1988 or 2007 films that the musical is based on, it
may be worrying that the show is quite limited in offering originality to the
story. Yet the musical at times does shine its own personality into the
performance, particularly with the track Mama,
I’m
a Big Girl Now.
This single appears in the credits of the John
Travolta starring film, however it makes far more sense for the musical to
showcase this song as it acts as the perfect opportunity to highlight how the
story expresses mother and daughter relationships.
Right
from the opening scene we are absorbed into a world of rainbow colours, rhythm
and blues and big hair. The primary single Good
Morning Baltimore introduces us to Tracy lying upright in a quirky designed
bed before jumping out and embracing the day ahead. From then on in the
cheerful tone of the musical is unchallenged as a continuous roll of catchy
uplifting melodies fill our ears. The music in the show is a flamboyant cheese-fest
which many not reflect everyone’s tastes, but fan of former Hairspray productions will be impressed by these perfectly pitched
performances.
The cast
is a fireball of energy dressed in their accurate decorative costumes and
wearing heavy crazy hairdos while constantly on their feet dancing to Jerry Mitchell’s choreography. Although there
is not much in terms of character development in Hairspray, this works in the musicals favour as it means we have to
stop comparing the show to reality, as the artificial to cheerful qualities of
the characters compliment the world of Hairspray.
Although the musical does tackle the huge issue of race, taking a fun and
provocative angle on the serious and ever-present subject. Hairspray almost seems to suggest that change shouldn’t pose such difficulties as it
does in reality.
It’s hard to see how this can be Freya Sutton’s debut professional theatre
performance as she is precise as Baltimore’s sweetheart Tracy. One of the best actresses is ex-Eastenders star Lucy Benjamin, who fills in the sparkling yellow slippers of
confident The Corny Collins Show
producer Velma Von Tussle. It is a shame that Motormouth Maybelle (Sandra Marvin) is absent until the end
of Act 1 as Marvin’s voice is phenomenal. Her delivery of the final powerful
notes in I Know Where I’ve Been has the ability to create
goosebumps on even the toughest of men.
The one
character who is always going to steal the show is Edna Turnblad. Mark Benton has a lot to live up to
when playing Tracy’s mother as the role was originally portrayed by Divine in his final film and John Travolta six years ago.
Fortunately he wins the hearts of the audiences with his performance of the
caring mother. The cute and romantic number, Timeless to Me sees Edna along with her husband, Wilbur Turnblad (Paul Rider), duet in the funniest
performance of the night having the crowd roaring in stitches and causing
Benton himself to giggle his lyrics.
Hairspray ticks all the boxes in providing a flamboyant fantastic
musical. With a large bubbling cast, entertaining dancing and catchy music, it
is the perfect show in creating a contagious gleeful spirit which will be
enjoyed by all of the family.
Four stars ✭✭✭✭
Hairspray
is at the Edinburgh Playhouse until 14th September.
www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse
www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse
