Hairspray – Leicester Curve and Touring

Picture: Ellie Kurttz

Hairspray continues at Leicester Curve until 28 September 2024. The tour continues until 19 April 2025.

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩

‘The nicest kids in town’ are back on the road again, with this new production of Hairspray on a UK tour. Taking the 1988 John Waters film of the same name and filling it with one of the catchiest scores of the last 25 years, the show captured Broadway’s heart in the early 2000s and quickly became a hit on this side of the pond too. A perennial favourite with audiences for its big hair, big personality and big heart, Hairspray’s popularity shows no sign of waning two decades on, and sees theatregoers returning to its uplifting story time and time again, along with newcomers who inevitably fall for its wonderfully-kitsch charms.

In 1960s Baltimore, Tracy Turnblad (Alexandra Emmerson-Kirby) dreams of being a dancer on The Corny Collins Show, a talent search broadcast on a local TV network and produced by the ruthless Velma Von Tussle (understudied on press night by Kirsty Sparks). Going against the wishes of her mother Edna (Neil Hurst), Tracy auditions for the show accompanied by her friend Penny (Freya McMahon), but discovers she doesn’t fit the station’s narrow view of how its dancers should look, with Velma manipulating the show to put her daughter Amber (Allanna Taylor) front and centre. Undeterred, Tracy doesn’t give up, and while in detention, finds herself befriending a group of Black students who are facing their own form of oppression and segregation. What starts out as a mission to dance together ends up being a fight for tolerance, acceptance and self-belief, as America says ‘Welcome to the 60’s’ and goodbye to outdated prejudices.

Hairspray remains one of the most joyous and enjoyable musicals around, and it’s not hard to se why it remains so popular with audiences. The story (book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan) is packed with humour (mostly coming from the irrepressible Edna and awkward teen Penny), but is also far deeper than its initial “bubblegum” surface suggests, and looking past the big hair and big smiles to explore the need for equality that these characters are searching for.

Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman’s score still sounds fantastic all these years later, with toe-tapping 1960s rhythm and blues influences guaranteed to get toes tapping. Shaiman and Wittman have written some fantastic stuff in their careers (Catch Me If You Can, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the ‘Bombshell’ musical for the TV series Smash), but Hairspray remains their peak and may perhaps never be bettered by the talented pair. Most musicals have a few skippable duff songs, Hairspray is pure gold from start to finish.

This production is directed by Brenda Edwards (with Paul Kerryson), who has a strong history with the show having played Motormouth Maybelle on several occasions. Her affection for the piece is clearly felt throughout, and though it doesn’t really offer anything particularly new or different in its approach, it’s certainly a solid and competent delivery, and the infectious joy of the musical is most certainly felt.

Some scene transitions feel a little cumbersome, and there is a slight feeling of over-reliance on video screens to make up for an often-empty stage, but in fairness this just gives the talented ensemble more room to move, and there really is no stopping them. Executing Drew McOnie’s incredible choreography with an assured slickness and boundless energy, they are an absolute joy to watch throughout and make it look effortless.

The cast is top-notch and all do a brilliant job, bringing masses of personality to their roles. For some, the show marks their professional debuts, which makes their portrayals all the more impressive.

Emmerson-Kirby is one such performer, who leads the show fantastically as Tracy and has a huge likeability to her performance, singing and dancing up a storm. McMahon is also making her debut here as Penny, and is the comedic highlight of the show, making a supporting role into a memorable one. Also shining in their debut is Michelle Ndegwa who gives a belting (literally) performance as Motormouth Maybelle and brings an enormous amount of emotional weight to ‘I Know Where I’ve Been’, reminding us just how powerful that song can be in the right hands. Other standouts are Solomon Davy who makes a suitably-swoonsome Link Larkin full of charm, and also Katlo, who shines as Little Inez.

Hairspray is a high-haired huge-hearted hit and is always a must-see show whenever it plays our stages. With its important story, loveable characters and fabulous score that absolutely proves “you can’t stop the beat”, Hairspray is an absolute tonic as winter approaches, and guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Rob Bartley