Hairspray, UK Tour Review (2024)
The cast of Hairspray. Photo by Pamela Raith
Written by Emily H for Theatre and Tonic.
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
An iconic and well-loved musical, Hairspray has become a symbol for many of the power of determination, wrapped up in swinging-60s style flamboyance and polyester. In it, we follow teenage outsider, Tracy Turnblad, as she faces the challenges of chasing her dreams in an America that appears determined to resist change.
Featuring bop-worthy hits such as ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’, ‘Welcome to the 60s’, and ‘Run and Tell That’, the cast deliver a lively, colourful, and high-energy production that is sure to get you tapping your toes.
Despite many of the cast making their professional debuts in this tour, as well as several understudies performing on the night in question, the performance was both well-played and exultant, bringing with it some often emotional moments of beauty. With stunning choreography from Drew McOnie and stellar direction from Paul Kerryson and Brenda Edwards, the cast delivered a thoroughly enjoyable performance, although the occasional misstep gave away their inexperience.
Special mention has to go to Alexandra Emmerson-Kirby, whose stunning vocals as Tracy really sold some of the lesser-known numbers such as “Mama I’m a Big Girl Now” and “Without Love”.
Neil Hurst and Dermot Canavan (Edna and Wilbur Turnblad) also stole the show with their belly-laugh inducing performance of their duet ‘You’re Timeless to Me’, which had the audience in fits of laughter. In many ways, their portrayal of the comedic characters toed the line of pantomime, with a classic giggly break in character towards the end of the song.
Joanne Clifton also proved just what a voice she’s got in her villainous rendition of ‘Miss Baltimore Crabs’. Her dance background certainly came in clutch, with the performer delivering powerful vocals all whilst being held upside down by a group of the male cast.
But it was ultimately Michelle Ndegwa’s version of ‘I Know Where I’ve Been’ that brought many in the house to their feet. A beautiful combination of silky vocals and simple staging, the number carried with it the weight and severity of times not so distant. After the recent events concerning a fellow castmate’s wrongful and racially-motivated detaining by the London police, emotion ran palpably high among the cast, and the performance noticeably carried that extra weight. Set to a projected background of historic Black activists, this was a song of tribute, of solidarity, told through a voice that carried the pain and suffering of generations, and it was simply breathtaking.
A more modern twist on the song ‘Big, Blonde and Beautiful’ also saw Motormouth and crew celebrating a message of body positivity, and this was a real highlight on which to close Act 1. Particularly given the unrealistic beauty standards still prevalent today, it was empowering, bold and wholly unforgettable.
There were certainly moments in the show that could do with a little refining (the PE teacher and prison officer characters leaned slightly uncomfortably on the side of creepy caricatures, for example, and the girls’ often screeched lines did begin to grate), but it was largely a very wholesome performance. Takis’ set, consisting mostly of simple projections, proved effective in letting the complex choreography patterns and lyrics speak for themselves, while the bright patterned costumes gave us all the star quality that you would expect from this classic show.
Outrageously feel-good and bursting with life, Hairspray delivers feel-good entertainment from start to finish. A must see for fans of the film!
Hairspray plays at the Birmingham Hippodrome until the 21st September, with the UK tour continuing into April 2025.
★ ★ ★ ★
