Hairspray - The Musical

Rather than wait for the touring production of this exuberant musical to arrive in Leicester Paul Kerryson, in his final year as Artistic Director at Curve, pounced on the rights to create an in house production when they were released on a limited basis. The result is a bright, energetic romp through the music of the 60's overlain by the horrific bigotry of racial segregation that still infected many parts of the so-called civilised western world. In particular America.

The original film by John Waters (a subversive comedy god in my eyes) starred the behemoth that was Divine alongside luminaries such as Rikki Lake, Debbie Harry and Sonny Bono in 1988. It was eventually turned into a stage musical in 2002 starring Harvey Fierstein and Matthew Morrison (of Glee fame), before transferring to London in 2007 with Michael Ball, Mel Smith and Tracie Bennett and has been touring the UK ever since.

The plot involves plus-sized Tracy Turnblad and her double plus sized Mother Edna forcing an end to racial segregation in 1960's Baltimore by getting mixed coloured dancing shown on TV. Along the way we get a lesson in how true love conquers all, not only between teenagers but within the family. But buried in the lyrics there are some very subversive ideas; "In my ivory tower/ Life was just a hostess snack / But now i've tasted chocolate/ And i'm never going back" as sung by white Penny about her black lover, Seaweed.

Kerryson, with the unbelievable technology of the Curve's backstage to play with, creates a brightly coloured, spacious musical with a heart. The enormous sets fly in and out, the props swish across the floor at a rate of knots and the dancers fill the stage with outrageous routines in an array of costumes.

The cast serve him well with the main leads being taken by a couple of refugees from TV, the modern training ground for musical actors it seems. Rebecca Craven playing Tracy Turblad can currently be seen in Waterloo Road; David Witts was most recently in Eastender and Vicki Lee Taylor was in Emmerdale. Special mention should go to Tyrone Huntly who played Seaweed who should be playing in Thriller with a voice and look that can double for Michael Jackson with ease.

A sold out audience on this Wednesday evening were on their feet stamping, clapping a howling their support right up to the finale. Paul Kerryson can be proud of yet another triumphant success for Leicester's Curve. let's hope his successor can continue his unerring good work.

© Paul Towers 20/3/2014