REVIEW
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Hairspray the Musical
Cliffs Pavilion
Mon 9 - Sat 14 Sep 2024
‘You can’t stop the beat’
Cliffs Pavilion
Mon 9 - Sat 14 Sep 2024
‘You can’t stop the beat’
What an uplifting and jolly musical Hairspray is? All of the characters are larger than life and the singers bring their own personality to the songs. Hairspray first appeared as a John Waters’ film in 1988. However, the musical version has wowed audiences in the West End and Broadway ever since the 2000s. It has been a success all over the world, winning 8 Tony awards and 4 Oliviers amongst others. It never dates with its hard-hitting message of tolerance and the ending of racial discrimination.
From the opening of the show with Good Morning Baltimore, song after song is belted out by the ensemble cast, dancing and singing their hearts out. It is full of show-stopping numbers and energetic dance routines, from the beginning to the grand finale of You Can’t Stop the Beat.
Set in 1962, the story is a rag to riches one. Tracy Turnblad has one dream, and that is to perform on the TV “Corny Collins Show.” However, she doesn’t fit the look, being somewhat on the large size. One day in school detention, she mixes with failing African-American students. One of them, Seaweed (Reece Richards) shows her some funky dance moves and her life changes. Demonstrating her energetic dancing, she is given a spot on the show, much to the producer’s annoyance, as she is pushing her daughter Amber into the spotlight. The producer, Velma van Tussle, is a high-powered performance by Strictly’s Joanne Clifton. Who knew she could sing as well as dance? Meanwhile, Amber is loved-up with the teen pinup Link Larkin, who is falling for Tracy’s dynamic personality. At a time of segregation, Tracy uses her newfound fame to make the show integrate the singers and dancers and becomes an advocate for black and white equality. The message being that one person can make a difference in the fight against discrimination.
Making her debut as Tracy is Alexandra Emmerson- Kirby who fills the stage with her big personality. singing and dancing with gusto. She completely conveys the ‘over the top’ hysteria of teenage girls besotted with their idols together with her screechy friend, Penny (Freya McMahon).
Ever since the 1988 film, the part of Edna, Tracy’s mum, has been played by a man. Originally, it was a friend of Waters, the drag artist Divine. This tradition has continued and John Travolta, Michael Ball and others, has since played the part. This production is no different with an excellent performance by Neil Hurst, as Edna, encouraging her daughter to follow her dream. Amongst the full on brash numbers there is a particularly tender moment when Edna and her husband Wilbur (Dermot Canavan) sing of their love in You’re Timeless to Me.
The sixties pastiches are particularly well done. There is a nod to the girl groups the Supremes and Shirelles and lots of be bops and shoop shoop numbers. At the same time Motormouth Maybelle (Michelle Ndegwa), who has her own show Negro Day, can sing the blues. Her stand out big number I know Where I’ve Been ending with a back projection of famous champions of civil rights bought cheers and applause.
Amongst the sixties performers, there is the smooth DJ Corny Collins with the slick personality and slicked back hair. An excellent performance by Declan Egan who really captures the flash TV personality. In addition, Solomon Davy gives a fetching performance as the love interest Link Larkin. He presents himself as a typical sixties teen idol singing, It Takes Two, in true Frankie Avalon style.
The songs by award winners Marc Shaiman (music and lyrics) and Scott Wittman (lyrics) are witty and cheeky, and the music is loud and lively under the direction of Richard Atkinson.
Hairspray has everything. There is comedy, exhilarating singing and dancing, great choreography and costumes, but most of all it has tremendous joy. The packed audience were with it all the way, which was surprising, as most of them weren’t even born in the sixties. If you want a fun night out, take the family and as the song says, They’ll be Welcome to the 60’s.
Review Jacquee Storozynki-Toll
Ticket Information
£25 - £60
A transaction fee of up to £3.95 may apply to your order.
Mon 9 - Sat 14 Sep 2024
8pm, 2.30pm
Cliffs Pavilion Station Road, Southend on Sea, Essex, SS0 7RA
Box Office: 0343 310 0030
The tour continues:-
SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion
09 Sep 2024 - 14 Sep 2024
BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome
16 Sep 2024 - 21 Sep 2024
LEICESTER Curve
23 Sep 2024 - 28 Sep 2024
BRIGHTON Theatre Royal
30 Sep 2024 - 05 Oct 2024
EDINBURGH Playhouse
07 Oct 2024 - 12 Oct 2024
SHEFFIELD Lyceum Theatre
14 Oct 2024 - 19 Oct 2024
New WIMBLEDON Theatre
21 Oct 2024 - 26 Oct 2024
YORK Grand Opera House
28 Oct 2024 - 02 Nov 2024
Nottingham Theatre Royal
04 Nov 2024 - 09 Nov 2024
Newcastle Theatre Royal
11 Nov 2024 - 16 Nov 2024
HULL New Theatre
18 Nov 2024 - 23 Nov 2024
Bradford Alhambra Theatre
25 Nov 2024 - 30 Nov 2024
SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER THEATRE
07 Jan 2025 - 11 Jan 2025
TRURO Hall For Cornwall
13 Jan 2025 - 18 Jan 2025
ABERDEEN His Majesty’s Theatre
21 Jan 2025 - 25 Jan 2025
GLASGOW King’s Theatre
27 Jan 2025 - 01 Feb 2025
WOLVERHAMPTON Grand Theatre
03 Feb 2025 - 08 Feb 2025
NORWICH Theatre Royal
10 Feb 2025 - 15 Feb 2025
AYLESBURY Waterside Theatre
17 Feb 2025 - 22 Feb 2025
BRISTOL Hippodrome
24 Feb 2025 - 01 Mar 2025
MALVERN Theatres
03 Mar 2025 - 08 Mar 2025
DERRY Millennium Forum
10 Mar 2025 - 15 Mar 2025
DARTFORD Orchard Theatre
24 Mar 2025 - 29 Mar 2025
WOKING New Victoria Theatre
31 Mar 2025 - 05 Apr 2025
LLANDUDNO Venue Cymru
07 Apr 2025 - 12 Apr 2025
SUNDERLAND Empire Theatre
14 Apr 2025 - 19 Apr 2025
From the opening of the show with Good Morning Baltimore, song after song is belted out by the ensemble cast, dancing and singing their hearts out. It is full of show-stopping numbers and energetic dance routines, from the beginning to the grand finale of You Can’t Stop the Beat.
Set in 1962, the story is a rag to riches one. Tracy Turnblad has one dream, and that is to perform on the TV “Corny Collins Show.” However, she doesn’t fit the look, being somewhat on the large size. One day in school detention, she mixes with failing African-American students. One of them, Seaweed (Reece Richards) shows her some funky dance moves and her life changes. Demonstrating her energetic dancing, she is given a spot on the show, much to the producer’s annoyance, as she is pushing her daughter Amber into the spotlight. The producer, Velma van Tussle, is a high-powered performance by Strictly’s Joanne Clifton. Who knew she could sing as well as dance? Meanwhile, Amber is loved-up with the teen pinup Link Larkin, who is falling for Tracy’s dynamic personality. At a time of segregation, Tracy uses her newfound fame to make the show integrate the singers and dancers and becomes an advocate for black and white equality. The message being that one person can make a difference in the fight against discrimination.
Making her debut as Tracy is Alexandra Emmerson- Kirby who fills the stage with her big personality. singing and dancing with gusto. She completely conveys the ‘over the top’ hysteria of teenage girls besotted with their idols together with her screechy friend, Penny (Freya McMahon).
Ever since the 1988 film, the part of Edna, Tracy’s mum, has been played by a man. Originally, it was a friend of Waters, the drag artist Divine. This tradition has continued and John Travolta, Michael Ball and others, has since played the part. This production is no different with an excellent performance by Neil Hurst, as Edna, encouraging her daughter to follow her dream. Amongst the full on brash numbers there is a particularly tender moment when Edna and her husband Wilbur (Dermot Canavan) sing of their love in You’re Timeless to Me.
The sixties pastiches are particularly well done. There is a nod to the girl groups the Supremes and Shirelles and lots of be bops and shoop shoop numbers. At the same time Motormouth Maybelle (Michelle Ndegwa), who has her own show Negro Day, can sing the blues. Her stand out big number I know Where I’ve Been ending with a back projection of famous champions of civil rights bought cheers and applause.
Amongst the sixties performers, there is the smooth DJ Corny Collins with the slick personality and slicked back hair. An excellent performance by Declan Egan who really captures the flash TV personality. In addition, Solomon Davy gives a fetching performance as the love interest Link Larkin. He presents himself as a typical sixties teen idol singing, It Takes Two, in true Frankie Avalon style.
The songs by award winners Marc Shaiman (music and lyrics) and Scott Wittman (lyrics) are witty and cheeky, and the music is loud and lively under the direction of Richard Atkinson.
Hairspray has everything. There is comedy, exhilarating singing and dancing, great choreography and costumes, but most of all it has tremendous joy. The packed audience were with it all the way, which was surprising, as most of them weren’t even born in the sixties. If you want a fun night out, take the family and as the song says, They’ll be Welcome to the 60’s.
Review Jacquee Storozynki-Toll
Ticket Information
£25 - £60
A transaction fee of up to £3.95 may apply to your order.
Mon 9 - Sat 14 Sep 2024
8pm, 2.30pm
Cliffs Pavilion Station Road, Southend on Sea, Essex, SS0 7RA
Box Office: 0343 310 0030
The tour continues:-
SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion
09 Sep 2024 - 14 Sep 2024
BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome
16 Sep 2024 - 21 Sep 2024
LEICESTER Curve
23 Sep 2024 - 28 Sep 2024
BRIGHTON Theatre Royal
30 Sep 2024 - 05 Oct 2024
EDINBURGH Playhouse
07 Oct 2024 - 12 Oct 2024
SHEFFIELD Lyceum Theatre
14 Oct 2024 - 19 Oct 2024
New WIMBLEDON Theatre
21 Oct 2024 - 26 Oct 2024
YORK Grand Opera House
28 Oct 2024 - 02 Nov 2024
Nottingham Theatre Royal
04 Nov 2024 - 09 Nov 2024
Newcastle Theatre Royal
11 Nov 2024 - 16 Nov 2024
HULL New Theatre
18 Nov 2024 - 23 Nov 2024
Bradford Alhambra Theatre
25 Nov 2024 - 30 Nov 2024
SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER THEATRE
07 Jan 2025 - 11 Jan 2025
TRURO Hall For Cornwall
13 Jan 2025 - 18 Jan 2025
ABERDEEN His Majesty’s Theatre
21 Jan 2025 - 25 Jan 2025
GLASGOW King’s Theatre
27 Jan 2025 - 01 Feb 2025
WOLVERHAMPTON Grand Theatre
03 Feb 2025 - 08 Feb 2025
NORWICH Theatre Royal
10 Feb 2025 - 15 Feb 2025
AYLESBURY Waterside Theatre
17 Feb 2025 - 22 Feb 2025
BRISTOL Hippodrome
24 Feb 2025 - 01 Mar 2025
MALVERN Theatres
03 Mar 2025 - 08 Mar 2025
DERRY Millennium Forum
10 Mar 2025 - 15 Mar 2025
DARTFORD Orchard Theatre
24 Mar 2025 - 29 Mar 2025
WOKING New Victoria Theatre
31 Mar 2025 - 05 Apr 2025
LLANDUDNO Venue Cymru
07 Apr 2025 - 12 Apr 2025
SUNDERLAND Empire Theatre
14 Apr 2025 - 19 Apr 2025