Hairspray

Image Source: Hairspray

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Musical
Genre: Comedy
Date: October 12 2015
Location: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Hairspray recently made an eagerly-anticipated return to Liverpool, once again emanating from the Liverpool Empire Theatre. The show is all about having fun and tackling important issues in a manner that brings a smile to one's face and with a flair that ensures you will be cheering on the lead characters as they strive to achieve their goals. The plot has multiple layers, but they all come together nicely and, through their development and resolution, combine to tell a story which is both eye-catching and entertaining, making for a very enjoyable night at the theatre.

The lead character, Tracy Turnblad (Freya Sutton), is a slightly overweight teenage girl living in Baltimore who, along with her friend Penny (Monique Young), loves to watch the locally-based TV programme The Corny Collins Show. This is to the disapproval of her mother Edna (played by Tony Maudsley; you can tell it's a male playing the somewhat masculine female, but I didn't realise till midway through that it was Tony, which is a positive I suppose!), with her father Wilbur (Peter Duncan) not minding as his priority is keeping his joke shop in business. One day, the 1960s-based show that blends intricate dancing with feel-good singing reveals that the programme will soon be looking for a new dancer, and that interested parties should audition.

After much persuasion, Tracy and Penny are given the chance to go along, but are confronted on the day by the spoilt brat dancer Amber (Lauren Stroud), who calls them out for their physical appearances. However, they try to ignore Amber as their eyes are on the attractive male dancer Link Larkin (Ashley Gilmour), who tells the casting committee (amongst them Amber's mother Velma Von Tussle, played by Claire Sweeney) that they should give Tracy a chance. While they ponder the decision, Tracy's school studies continue to suffer and she is sent to detention where she meets an African-American crew of students, led by Seaweed (Dex Lee). Their funky dance moves and laid-back attitude impress Tracy, who it must be said is a quick learner when it comes to the art of dance. But the most important aspect of Seaweed is that his mother Motormouth Maybelle (played by Brenda Edwards of X Factor fame) works on the Corny Collins programme. One thing leads to another, and in the end, to the dismay of Amber and Velma, Tracy makes it as a dancer to The Corny Collins Show.

But the story is not over yet; far from it. For Tracy begins to gain popularity and fame, much to the jealous dismay of Amber who goes about trying to bring Tracy down. Meanwhile, Tracy tries to get her family more noticed with the belief that such exposure could assist them financially, and through her friendship with Seaweed, she also makes a real effort to help her African-American buddies at a time (1962) when racial segregation was a major situation in America. In addition, Tracy and Link appear to be getting closer, and even Penny, who is previously controlled by her dictatorial mother, has a crush in the form of Seaweed. These plot lines continue alongside some other side stories (amongst them Edna and Wilbur attempting to rekindle their romance). This all leads to a climatic final scene, broadcast live on The Corny Collins Show, which will truly determine whether the lead characters can achieve their goals or whether they will be thwarted on a grand stage.

This show is very much a feel-good production, from the colourful and old-fashioned set designs (particularly for the TV show, the set for which looks perfect nostalgic) to the bright, positive messages of the musical score. In addition, Tracy is always vibrant and optimistic, never truly allowing those who bring her down to keep her from bouncing back. Freya Sutton explained this to me in a recent interview (which you can read by clicking here), and it shines through during the show: her cheery personality, unwavering loyalty for family and friends and her determination to push through with her objectives, along with her flawless American accent and her rather impressive dance moves, all combine to create a memorable and positive character, with Freya's portrayal of Tracy being the clear highlight of the show.

That being said, the best singing performances come from Maybelle; this isn't a surprise considering that Brenda has previously showcased her vocal range on The X Factor, but her renditions of several tunes are still stunning. Other notable aspects include Seaweed and crew performing some very intricate dance routines, and the evolution of several characters, amongst them Penny (who goes from quiet and shy to outgoing and adventurous) and Edna (who changes from a miserable, always-moaning mother to a positive, self-confident and proud parent). A special mention must also go to Karis Jack who plays Little Inez, by far the youngest member of the cast, whose singing and dancing make this a worthwhile show to see in its own right.

So, overall, Hairspray was definitely a very enjoyable theatre production. It tells clear stories and brings a number of plot lines to one satisfying conclusion, all the while providing catchy tunes, spectacular dance moves and, more than anything, a positive message that shows how you can achieve just about anything if you really try and work as hard as you can to make it happen. Hairspray could return to the Empire in future but, in the meantime, you should check it out during its current run; you're certain to have a fun time.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10 - Excellent

Freya Sutton: "Tracy Turnblad is a dream role for me in Hairspray"

Image Source: Twitter

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

With the internationally-popular show Hairspray about to land at the Liverpool Empire Theatre, Mark Armstrong recently spoke to one of the main stars of the show, Freya Sutton, to discuss her role as Tracy Turnblad and why it is the perfect part for her to play …

To begin with, briefly tell us the story of Hairspray.

My character Tracy Turnblad is from a family that is not very well-off (her mum's a housewife who does ironing and stuff, and her dad runs a shop that doesn't really do very well), plus they're kind of overweight. Tracy is told that entering the dance business is a risk, because her mother doesn't want to see her get hurt, but Tracy is determined and says that she really want to get onto a TV show, The Corny Collins Show, which would showcase her talents.

And she manages to do that with the help of her friend Penny (Monique Young), plus along the way, she meets Seaweed (Dex Lee) who is the son of Motormouth Maybelle (Brenda Edwards), a DJ on the Corny Collins show. And at one point, Tracy thinks "Well, hang on. This isn't about me wanting to dance anymore; Seaweed’s little sister wants to dance on the show, they want to dance more and they're really good, so you know what? It's not all about me; I want everyone to dance together." So by the end of the show, she makes that happen, and she actually manages to have a love story as well with Link Larkin (Ashley Gilmour) who is a popular boy on The Corny Collins Show.

How would you describe your character of Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray?

My character is very joyful, she's very considerate, and I think she's very observant. And she's kind of wise before her years, very supportive. She goes on this journey where she could leave her mum in the house, but she takes her mum with her, she takes her friend Penny, and instead of just getting herself on the show, halfway through Act One, she gets herself on Corny Collins, but the show doesn't stop there. So, she's very considerate and happy.

How is your second run in this production comparing to your original stint?

It's different because the first time I did it, it was such an incredible experience. I got to work with an American director who was an assistant to the original director, and he actually come over with the original choreographer, which was amazing. And our show that we did was the Broadway version, which was then the West End version, whereas this second time around, this is different. Last time, we had the original set, we had costumes shipped over etc., whereas for this second run, it's been amazing because I've been there through the whole redesign of costumes. I've had input into that so, for example, if there's shoes that I liked, I've asked for them or if I want to wear a specific colour. I've had input in a lot of direction, I've had a lot more freedom and it's been a lot more organic, which has been really nice. Each time, I've just loved every minute and it's been the dream role for me, so it's just been incredible to get to do my dream role again.

What can you tell us about the rest of the cast in Hairspray?

They're incredible! They're all absolutely phenomenal! Everyone's just brought so much to it: there's so much energy, so much commitment, and it's amazing to work with such a talented range of people. There are people that have got a lot of experience, and there are people who have just graduated. It's really nice to get that kind of wisdom from more experienced names on how you can keep doing it eight shows a week, and then to also see the energy from the newer people who have just graduated – it’s really great. We're only around three weeks into the tour, and already everyone's just getting on so well. It's great!

What has been your career highlight so far as a theatre performer?

Probably getting to play this character: Tracy Turnblad is a dream role for me, because I get to act, sing and dance. She's such an amazing character, she goes through all sorts of emotions, so she's knocked down emotionally, she's happy, she has a love scene, she has scenes where she's in her protest – there’s so much that she does. She dances, which is a really big passion of mine, and I'm quite similar to her as a character, And at some shows, I've had people come up to me at the stage door or they’ve Tweeted me, and they’ve said: "You know, I've struggled with my weight, and coming to watch this show has really helped me think that I am what I am and inspired me.” She has a really great heart, the show has a lot of meaning behind it, and so it's a beautiful piece of theatre to be a part of.

Finally, what are the moments which attendees should particularly look out for when watching Hairspray?

Well, the audience always love the '60s, and you can't stop the beat because everyone's always up dancing. People have told me that when they have seen it, there aren’t any weak scenes: it's so well-written that there's no song or scene that you'd say "Oh, that could be taken out" or "That's a bit of a weak link". The show just keeps going and everything is so entertaining, the time just flies by, and I find that to be the case on the stage as well; the time just goes so quickly! It's amazing. Oh, and the choreography by Drew McOnie is great, so that's something to watch out for as well!

Hairspray plays the Liverpool Empire from Monday October 12 to Saturday October 17. To book your tickets, click here.

For more information about Hairspray, visit www.hairsprayuktour.com.