REVIEW: Hairspray at Newcastle Theatre Royal

Hairspray 

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Until Saturday 16 November 2024

There is something wonderfully joyous, fun and fabulous about Hairspray. It has the feel good factor and yet there is a strong moral compass. Whilst it is based upon the values of Baltimore in 1962, the 2002 musical is based upon a popular movie from 1988, so it is woke before woke became a thing.

It is worth nothing that in 1988 there were still barriers for non-white people to get roles on television. Here's the thing though - this show starts like a David Lynch movie - in which, on the surface, everything is fabulous and rosy. It is only when you remove the veil that the issues over racism, misogyny and body shaming start to surface. In many ways, presenting the issues whilst keeping the show generally happy and chipper helps convey the message across.

This tale centres around Tracy Turnblad (Katie Brace), a schoolgirl who rushes home from school in order to watch her favourite teenage dance show on television with her best mate Penny (Freya McMahon). Now the "Corny Colins Show" is not without its issues. Dancers get pregnant and music styles are evolving. As one such dancer, Brenda (Nina Bell), needs to leave the show for nine months, Tracy sees her opportunity to live the dream and so she applies to do an audition. Life's plans rarely run smooth and so it proves to be the case for Tracy.

Racism is a feature of the story as the programme's producer, Velma Von Tussle (Joanne Clifton), doesn't hide her feelings and her only concession is that the show has a dedicated episode for the dancers of colour once a month. That episode has a different presenter, Motormouth Maybelle (Vanessa Dumatey) and it is her son Seaweed (Shemar Jarrett) who teaches Tracy some new dance moves to help her get on the show.

The show has a rich vein of humour, much of it coming from Tracy's parents: Edna (Neil Hurst) and Wilbur (Dermot Canavan). Their duet (You're) Timeless To Me was both funny and touching. You end up caring for these two characters much more than some that you may find in a show.

There is some great singing too. Tracy's love interest Link Larkin (Olly Manley) is fine with It Takes Two, accompanied by the other great feature of the show - the dancing. The real singing powerhouse in the show has to be Vanessa Dumatey who not only showed what a fabulous voice and singing range she had in a couple of show stopping numbers, but also her stage presence.

The show is popular because it is funny, absurd at times. But the show has lasted because it has a soul.

This Brenda Edwards directorial debut is an evenly paced affair which keeps the audience interested. As a former performer in the show, she clearly knows the material and how to make it resonate with audiences.

The only niggle was that the projection on the rear screen seemed to me to be slightly out of focus and slightly blurred which was off putting as it kept catch my eye rather the action on the stage itself.

Hairspray, so named due to the sponsorship of the television show and Miss Hairspray competition, is a fun ride that is a modern musical with a rare advantage - memorable songs. I cannot be the only one with You Can't Stop The Beat as the earworm on my way home.

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Ellie Kurttz

Tickets:

Hairspray plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Monday 11 – Saturday 16 November 2024. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.