Review: Hairspray at Newcastle Theatre Royal
Susan Wear says 'Good Morning' to 1960s Baltimore and reports back from an evening of escapism at the theatre
Welcome to the 60s, in Baltimore, USA, where racism, fat shaming, abusive parents, cruel teachers and all other sorts of other evils abound. Perhaps an unlikely setting for a joyous teenage rom com, with some belting songs and exuberant dance, matched by an equally elated audience.
Hairspray transitioned to the musical stage in 2002 - adapted from the 1988 cult film -and it’s been touring the world to ecstatic crowds across the UK ever since.
The story skirts around some of the worst traits of humanity, but in the two and half hours of escapism in the theatre it also shows off some of the best.
It’s up to a chubby schoolgirl, Tracy Turnblad, played with wonderful bounce and optimism by Katie Brace, to question the norm and lead the battle against bigotry.
With a foot-high beehive hairstyle that lands her in detention every day, she’s an unlikely activist. In fact all she wants is to be on the Corny Collins TV talent show, where stereotypical beautiful young people sing and dance to the hip tunes of the day.
But at the audition she’s turned away because of her look, and another girl Little Inez (Katlo) is refused because of her colour. Somehow Tracy inveigles her way on to the show where she meets her teenage heartthrob (Olly Manley) and becomes an overnight sensation.
She and her mother, Edna (Neil Hurst) who has refused to leave the house for years because of her size, win a lucrative contract with a plus size fashion company.
Then Tracy decides to lead a campaign to stop racial segregation so that anyone can perform on the show, but she and her fellow civil rights protesters end up in jail. Edna, and Wilbur (Tracy’s father played by Dermot Canavan) perform a duet that has the audience in stitches as they sing You’re Timeless to Me with comic parody perfection.
The show, which sees accomplished musical star, Brenda Edwards making her directorial debut, is full of well-loved songs – including a tear-jerking perfect rendition of I Know Where I’ve Been from Vanessa Dumatey playing Motormouth Maybelle. Good Morning Baltimore sets the scene and the reprise of You Can’t Stop the Beat followed by a standing ovation was ringing in my ears all the way home.
It seems incredulous that teenagers today may recognise the prejudice and injustices faced by their peers over 60 years ago and who knows what a musical about today’s America will look like in another 60 years? With the addition of climate change to the world’s problems it’s unlikely to be called Hairspray.
Maybe best to follow the lead of the audience, enjoy it in the moment whatever the subliminal messages and be happy that you can never stop the beat.
Hairspray is at Newcastle Theatre Royal until November 16. Visit the website for tickets.