Hairspray
Directed by Paul Kerryson and Brenda Edwards, who previously played the role of Motormouth Maybelle in a previous tour of the show, Hairspray is full of toe tapping musical numbers, but behind these lies a particularly important and relevant message.
Protagonist Tracy Turnblad, alongside new friends Seaweed and his sister Little Inez, and teen heartthrob Link Larkin, take on a world where segregation and insecurity are an accepted normality. When Tracy lands her dream role as a dancer on The Corny Collins Show, she believes every day should be ‘Negro Day’ and that all the kids should be allowed to dance together, no matter what they look like.
Katie Brace as Tracy is full of enthusiasm and delightfully portrayed, but its Freya McMahon as Tracy’s best friend Penny Pingleton, that steals the show. Her characterisation of the slightly simple and naïve teenager is beautifully depicted and provides a few smiles along the way.
Neil Hurst as Edna Turnblad is immensely wonderful from the get-go and has some great moments with Dermot Canavan as husband Wilbur, particularly in the musical number You’re Timeless To Me, allowing even the most sinical of us to believe in love once again.
The set design by Takis takes on a more digital look with this tour and frees up space for Drew McOnie’s choreography to really take centre stage.
Overall, this is a delightful and feel-good production, with its underlying themes of acceptance, not only of yourself, but of others too at the real crux of the story.
This show was reviewed on the 3rd February 2025 at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre where it runs until the 8th February 2025. Full tour dates and tickets can be found here: HAIRSPRAY | Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
Review written by Rachel Louise Martin
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Photo credit: Ellie Kurttz
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