Review: Eric Page
Get ready to shake your groove thing at this electrifying production of Hairspray at Theatre Royal Brighton. The story set in run-down Baltimore within the civil rights protests of the ’60s where Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, is on a mission to follow her dreams. She sets out to dance her way onto a racially segregated national TV show. Tracy’s audition makes her a local star, gains her quite a few entitled enemies as she uses her new-found fame to fight for equality, struggling with social issues and finding way to enable her family and friends to embrace their diversity. Stuffed with plenty of feel-good messaging around racial, age and female size diversity, it’s rooted in a good place, and the songs reflect this uplifting messaging.
Alexandra Emmerson-Kirby’s Tracy Turnblad is slightly subdued but soon starts that shimmy engine up to power the fabulous plus-size heroine to step up to challenge racial segregation and beauty standards. With a cast that’s in perfect harmony, this show is a chorus line of talent that’ll make you want to sing out.
The Theatre Royal stage may be compact, but the performances are anything but! The ensemble raises the bar with Drew Mconie‘s dynamic choreography, proving that when it comes to equality, they’re all in step.
The live house band rock the music, never missing a beat, driving this high energy musical to its delightful and very happy every after ending. The cast is electric, with a wide range of singers and dancers and two veteran comics combining their talents to keep the energy high and allow a pretty good range of emotive songs without sliding into smaltz or kitsch. Not easy when it’s all based around a ’60s Hairspray danceathon and is stalked by the louche spirit of John Walters (not that he’s dead yet…) as Tracy Turnblad is a version of his own younger Baltimore self.
Michelle Ndegwa as Motormouth Maybelle brings down the house with her powerful rendition of I Know Where I’ve Been, while the chemistry between Neil Hurst and Dermot Canavan as Edna and Wilbur Turnblad is so strong, you’ll think they’ve been “married” to these roles forever. They shared a lovely end of the pier routine which, with a touch of apparent improvisation, allowed these underwritten roles to shine and share some love, plus a hefty dose of innuendo, which was wonderfully funny, leaving few straight faces in the house. Understudy Kirsty Sparks stepping into the limelight at the opening night to shine as Velma.
Sets are a little basic for a national tour, but that might be to do with how small the Theatre Royal stage is, reflected in some ‘tight’ full cast dance numbers. The costumes, by Takis, are full on camp sequined delights referencing Bob Mackie. Wrapping the dancers up in colourful retro mania flattering their electric performances. Every one of them delights with their buoyant, tight, dynamic moves from the touch perfect choreography.
With its celebration of camp, uniqueness and community strength, Hairspray is a glittering beacon for the LGBTQ+ and wider community. It reminds us that whatever your intersectionality or identity there’s room for everyone on this dance floor of life.
The audience left the theatre with spirits lifted higher than Tracy’s hair, ready to turn the world around with love and acceptance. Hairspray at Theatre Royal Brighton is not just a musical – it’s a high energy showstopper that’ll have you believing you can’t stop the movement towards a more inclusive world!
Until Saturday, October 5
For more info or tickets, see Theater Royals website