I confess. I wanted to hate ‘Hairspray’. I’ve nothing against its loveably chubby heroine Tracy Turnblad (victim of her school’s anti-fat bimbos), who teams up with the black kids from Special Ed to overthrow ’60s racial prejudice and fulfil her dreams by (get this) busting their non-white dance moves on primetime TV. It was actually the thought of Michael Ball in drag which made me want to change profession.
But thanks to Jack O’Brien’s insanely uplifting production, I’m eating my words. True, O’Brien can do nothing to plump up the size-zero plot, a spindly coathanger for makeovers, momma/daughter bonding, starry-eyed snogs and XXL emotional razzmatazz. True, the lyrics sometimes suck – Maybelle (the show’s black big momma) has to get her mouth around a rack of chunkily affirmative couplets whose only relationship to rap is putting a ‘c’ in front of it. And true, the black/fat equivalences (Tracy’s chums’ ancestors were slaves, she’s enslaved by the cheeseburger) might be troubling if thought were the object here.
Luckily, it isn’t. This may be brainless pleasure, but its heart (a lovely duckling who wins through without becoming a nasty swan) is triumphantly in the right place. Its butt is in the right place too, thanks to Jerry Mitchell’s glorious seat-shimmying choreography. Leanne Jones (Tracy) shakes it with innocence and charm; her blonde oppressors (ma-and-daughter team Tracie Bennett and Rachael Wooding) make great pre- and post-menopause versions of psycho-Barbie. Ball’s fat-suit lends him delightful comic gravitas as Tracy’s ma; his duets with hubbie Mel Smith make nicely affectionate vaudeville. And the encounter between black and white music gives the score booty-shaking zing. Beyond that, it is, essentially, a two-and-a-half hour fantasy that Oprah’s target audience could stick their supersized hopes up the super-toned ass of WASP America. But what’s not to like about that?
Wow, Tracy Turnblad is fat. Wow, I love this movie. Wow, I'm putting hairspray in my hair right as we speak. Wow, speaking of hair, I haven't washed mine in three weeks. Wow. I smell bad, it's wow. Wow, this is the longest comment I have ever written. Wow, doesn't that make you happy. wow.
Wow! I saw Hairspray this week and I can't get the great tunes out of my head. Leanne Jones was truly outstanding - what a voice! Loved Michael Ball who played Edna as a believable mom rather than a man in drag. Just a fun, feel good show and a huge congratulations to the entire cast.
I loved it too, the young people of the cast are extremely vibrant, its nice to see Michael Ball honing is acting skills here thiisis not a drag act.
Johnny Fiori impressed me ernomously as Motor Mouth Maybelle and Ian Talbot is a worthy successor to Mel Smith as Mr Turnblad.
Tracie Bennett was very good as Velma Von Tussle a great over the top vilainess in the tradion of Cruelle Deville.
The songs are memorable , warm and affectionate pastiche
Met Michael Ball Liane Jones and other members of the cast at the stage door they were very accomodation taking time out to chat to autograph hunters.
Love to see it agin befor MIchael Ball leaves the show In October.
I have seen hairspray 3 times and simply love it, thought i would hate it.
Michael Ball is such a talent and as always gives his best to his audience at al times, when is the Cast recording Out!! please its a must have.
Well I love someone who can admit it when they are wrong.
Michael Ball gives a must see performance as Edna Turnblad.
The whole show is amazing and has finally broken the curse of the Shaftesbury.
6 comments
Wow, Tracy Turnblad is fat. Wow, I love this movie. Wow, I'm putting hairspray in my hair right as we speak. Wow, speaking of hair, I haven't washed mine in three weeks. Wow. I smell bad, it's wow. Wow, this is the longest comment I have ever written. Wow, doesn't that make you happy. wow.
Wow! I saw Hairspray this week and I can't get the great tunes out of my head. Leanne Jones was truly outstanding - what a voice! Loved Michael Ball who played Edna as a believable mom rather than a man in drag. Just a fun, feel good show and a huge congratulations to the entire cast.
I loved it too, the young people of the cast are extremely vibrant, its nice to see Michael Ball honing is acting skills here thiisis not a drag act.
Johnny Fiori impressed me ernomously as Motor Mouth Maybelle and Ian Talbot is a worthy successor to Mel Smith as Mr Turnblad.
Tracie Bennett was very good as Velma Von Tussle a great over the top vilainess in the tradion of Cruelle Deville.
The songs are memorable , warm and affectionate pastiche
Met Michael Ball Liane Jones and other members of the cast at the stage door they were very accomodation taking time out to chat to autograph hunters.
Love to see it agin befor MIchael Ball leaves the show In October.
I have seen hairspray 3 times and simply love it, thought i would hate it.
Michael Ball is such a talent and as always gives his best to his audience at al times, when is the Cast recording Out!! please its a must have.
Well I love someone who can admit it when they are wrong.
Michael Ball gives a must see performance as Edna Turnblad.
The whole show is amazing and has finally broken the curse of the Shaftesbury.
Oh yes. Its good, its very very good. Exhausted at the end -non stop energy.