Hull New Theatre was packed to the rafters on Monday evening, in anticipation of watching Hairspray – “the hilarious, joyous and most inspiring musical of all” according to the press release.
Did it live up that that description? You bet. I loved every madcap minute.
It’s 1962 America – Baltimore to be exact – and teen schoolgirl Tracy Turnblad (Katie Brace) is desperate to appear on her favourite TV programme, The Corny Collins Show.
Corny (Joseph Bristow), invites teens to show off their dancing skills, but racial segregation is prevalent in America at that time, so all of the dancers are “white”, with a “negro” night being held every so often.
Corny’s show is sponsored by a hairspray company, and Tracy’s ears prick up when she hears of a competition for a Miss Teenage Hairspray 1962. After all, she reasoned, her bouffant hairstyle is the perfect advertisement for such a product.
Tracy is determined to enter the competition and her best friend, the pigtailed Penny Pingleton (Freya McMahon), urges her on, against the wishes of Tracy’s parents, Edna (Neil Hurst) and Wilbur (Dermot Canavan).
At the auditions, Tracy faces ridicule from the show’s snobby producer, Velma Von Tussle (Kirsty Sparks), who has already decided that her daughter, Amber (Allana Taylor) will wear the crown.
Amber’s boyfriend, Link Larkin (Solomon Davy), dislikes his girlfriend’s snide remarks about Tracy, and actually begins to warm to the teen, who is Amber’s opposite in every way.
After yet another detention for having huge hair at school, Tracy meets a young dancer called Seaweed (Shemar Jarrett), who, because of his race would be eligible to dance on Corny Collin’s “negro” night.
This injustice absolutely infuriates our Trace. And, with the help of Seaweed, Motormouth Maybelle (Michelle Ndegwa), who owns Motormouth Records, and Little Inez (Katlo), plus dancers and singers on both sides, they all conspire to fight racial intolerance, discrimination and inequality.
Even a spell in prison doesn’t dent their ardour.
Very serious issues, indeed, but my goodness, this talented cast made every second a joy.
The stage setting changed from Tracy’s home, to Penny’s bedroom, to the streets of Baltimore (thanks to a huge video backdrop), to prison, and to the TV studio in the blink of an eye.
Costumes provided a lot of the colour, with brightly-coloured dresses, trousers and suits, segueing into sequinned concoctions that blinded in the light.
The action on stage was non-stop, aided by live music from onstage musicians who were revealed towards the end of the show.
All singing voices were exceptional with hits such as Welcome To The 60s, You Can’t Stop The Beat and, of course, Good Morning Baltimore (which is now an ear worm in my noggin).
One moving moment came courtesy of Michelle Ndegwa who, as Motormouth, sang her heart out with the gospel I Know Where I’ve Been. Fabulous.
Neil Hurst, as Edna Turnblad, was a scream. He reminded me a bit of funnyman Les Dawson at times. Edna’s husband, Wilbur (Canavan), couldn’t keep a straight face at Hurst’s antics; together they were a great comedy double act.
For most of the first half, it was Katie Brace’s facial expressions, as Tracy, that I just couldn’t drag my eyes away from. She was such an entertaining bundle of energy.
Such expressions must run in the Turnblad family, because her mum, Edna (Hurst) was just the same. Mesmerising, both.
Things don’t turn out for Tracy the way she had envisaged, but they do turn out beyond her wildest dreams.
The events fictionalised towards the end of Hairspray actually took place in 1963 and helped make the people of Baltimore realise that, thankfully, segregation in America was on the way out.
At the show’s end, ticker tape descended on a spellbound audience, whose standing ovation was thoroughly deserved by all on stage.
Running until Saturday, November 23rd, 2024; 7.30pm nightly with 2.30pm matinees on Thursday, 21st and Saturday, 23rd. Tickets cost from £24. Call (01482) 300306 or visit www.hulltheatres.co.uk
Reviewed by Jackie Foottit
Reviewed: 18th November 2024
North West End UK Rating: