Show: Hairspray The Musical
Location: Empire Theatre, Liverpool
Date: Monday August 30 2021
Time: 19.30
Running Time: 150 Minutes
Age Rating: 8+
Performers: Brenda Edwards & Norman Pace
Production Company: The Corner Shop PR
Writers: Mark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan
Director: Jack O’Brien
Our latest theatre review is for Hairspray The Musical at Liverpool‘s Empire Theatre. The show runs until Saturday September 4 2021. Now, this sees the return of one of the most popular touring theatre shows at the Empire Theatre. So, let’s take a look at Hairspray The Musical!
Hairspray The Musical
Background
The international musical phenomenon Hairspray is coming back to Liverpool this year! This show breaks box office records and delights West End audiences and on Broadway. Oh, and it has big screen success too. Dating back to 1988, this show has quite the legacy. And now it’s heading back out on tour around the UK and Ireland in 2021. Why go and see it? Because you can’t stop OUR beat- HAIRSPRAY is BACK ON TOUR – so run and tell that!
Welcome to the 60s, where everyone’s grooving to a brand-new sound! Then enter our vivacious heroine Tracy Turnblad. Now, Tracy has big hair, a big heart, and big dreams to dance her way onto national TV. And she wishes to dance into the heart of her teen idol Link Larkin. Furthermore, when Tracy becomes a local star, she uses her newfound fame to fight for liberation, tolerance, and interracial unity in Baltimore. But can she win equality – and Link’s heart – without denting her hair ‘do? You must see the show to find out!
Hairspray is a fun, feel-good show with eye-catching dances, gorgeous costumes and show-stealing musical numbers. Amongst the tunes are Welcome To The 60s, You Can’t Stop The Beat, Good Morning Baltimore and others. Indeed, Hairspray is the hilarious, joyous, and uplifting musical that we all need right now!
Analysis
We’re in Baltimore in 1962. So, the scene is set, and schoolgirl Tracy Turnblad (Katie Brace) welcomes us to the show. She provides a bright, larger than life version of Good Morning Baltimore. And she offers fabulous vocals to ensure a confident and professional opening to Hairspray. The show bases itself upon the 1988 John Waters camp film. And as Tracy Turnblad says, “You have to think big to be big”. This show is certainly big on talent and entertainment. So, the 50’s are well on their way out and change is in the air. Tracy is a big girl with a big heart, big hair and lots of hairspray. And she wins a spot on the local TV dance programme The Corny Collins Show after a dance competition. In doing so, she becomes a local teen celebrity.
The all-white dancers on the show join with black dancers. However, they can only appear once a month. But there is a revolution brewing! Tracy sidesteps the prejudices of the show’s nasty producer, Velma Von Tussle (Rebecca Thornhill), her mini-me daughter Amber (Jessica Croll), both the number one dancer on the show and love interest of hunk Link Larkin (Ross Clifton). And therefore she becomes the catalyst for change. At this stage, you would normally point out a particular standout performer. But the superb cast’s sustained energy is breathtaking, with every single cast member bringing something great to the show.
Other Notes
Tracy’s mum Edna Turnblad (understudy Paul Hutton) and dad Wilbur Turnblad (Norman Pace) have some great moments. So, some are comedic, others are touching, but both are seriously entertaining. And the audience would lap it up. Paul Hutton Was really believable as Tracy’s mother. And the duet by Edna and Wilbur of Timeless To Me was really good. I also didn’t realise that Norman Pace has such a good voice!
It wasn’t just about the songs, although Motormouth Maybelle’s (Brenda Edwards) I Know Where I’ve Been (which earned her a standing ovation) and the Supremes-style Dynamites’ Welcome To The 60s remain stand-out moments. Indeed, there are singers with real talent and accomplishment in this production! Additionally, the set design transports the audience throughout Baltimore. So, we go from the schoolyard to Tracy’s living room to a TV studio. It would seem slightly basic for such a professional production, but it certainly didn’t detract from the show.
Summary Of Hairspray The Musical
Hairspray is a plus-size beehive of entertainment with a warm message and an innocent heart. There are lots of funny lines and interesting characters, dance tunes and feel-good moves. And the rousing ending would have everyone up singing and dancing. Furthermore, the Liverpool Empire audience would duly provide a well-deserved standing ovation. Indeed, it is great to be back in the Empire Theatre. The staff managed and directed the excitable crowd efficiently and effectively with enough bar and kiosk staff to serve everyone in good time to avoid missing any of the show. And the result was an evening of fun, laughter and fabulous show-stopping dance numbers. Hey; You Can’t Stop The Beat!
Notes
Target Audience: 8+
Content: Mild Language
Recommendation?: Yes
Overall Rating: 9/10 – Outstanding
Hairspray The Musical Further Links
Hairspray The Musical runs at the Empire Theatre until Saturday September 4 2021. So, to purchase tickets, please click here.
For more information about this show, click here.
Read our previous review of this show by clicking here.
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