THEATRE REVIEW: Hairspray at Sheffield Lyceum

IF I WERE still a musical-sceptic youth, Hairspray would be my absolute worst nightmare.
By Phil Turner
Published 11th Feb 2016, 12:49 BST
Updated 10th Jan 2017, 14:57 BST

Hairspray

Sheffield Lyceum

until Saturday, February 13

Fortunately I’ve grown up and learned to embrace the “uncool”, opening the door to a whole load of unashamedly cheesy theatre.

Most Popular

    With its wide-eyed characters, saccharine smiles, loud outfits and multiple reprises, Hairspray definitely fits that category.

    Hide Ad
    Hide Ad

    Set in 1962, it follows Tracy Turnblad (Freya Sutton), a curvy Baltimore teen looking to win her big break as a dancer — and the heart of TV crush Link Larkin (Ashley Gilmour).

    Knocked back by shallow TV producer Velma von Tussle (TV’s Claire Sweeney), she finds friendship in a group of dancing black classmates who have also been denied the limelight.

    Together with pal Penny Pingleton (Monique Young), radio DJ Motormouth Maybelle (X Factor finalist Brenda Edwards) and fleet-footed Seaweed (Dex Lee), she hatches a plan to storm the studio and knock the bigots off their high horse.

    Tracy’s larger-than-life mum Edna Turnblad (Benidorm star Tony Maudsley) makes her presence felt, too, winning big laughs from beginning to end.

    Hide Ad
    Hide Ad

    As a tale of the fight for African American rights, it falls a bit flat.

    The show’s one serious interlude is Maybelle’s powerful blues solo in act two, for which Edwards rightly received a standing ovation on Monday.

    Otherwise the racial tension is played for laughs, like an old Looney Tunes cartoon peppered with watermelons.

    This story is more about Tracy and her battle for curvy acceptance than about her segregated friends.

    Hide Ad
    Hide Ad

    And it’s obvious from the outset that all will end well, celebrating the civil rights movement’s success without really dwelling on the struggle.

    But Hairspray isn’t advertised as deep and meaningful tale of political triumph — it’s a big, bouncing musical with loveable characters, outstanding dancing and memorable songs.

    If you don’t go expecting To Kill a Mockingbird, you won’t be disappointed. In fact, you’ll probably end up dancing to in the aisles.

    Fans of the movie (the 1988 original or the 2007 reboot) should be impressed by spectacular sets and a fabulous live band.

    So catch Hairspray before Saturday and see why it’s packing the Lyceum to the rafters.

    For more information on the tour, visit http://www.hairsprayuktour.com/