|
Hairspray
Book by Mark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan
Music by Marc Shaiman
Lyrics by Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman
Directed by Jack O’Brien
Choreographed by Jerry Mitchell
At the Cadillac Palace Theatre
151 W. Randolph
Chicago, IL
Call 312-902-1400, tickets $37.50 - $82.50
Tuesdays at 7:30 PM
Wednesdays at 2 & 7:30 PM
Thursdays at 7:30 PM
Fridays at 8 PM
Saturdays at 2 & 8 PM
Sundays at 2 PM
Through December 18, 2005
Hairspray is a manic dancing delight!
Hairspray is the greatest rock musical of all-time! It is a satisfying neon cartoon so sweet it melts your heart. This is a major Broadway musical with all the bells and whistles. It looks great with colorful costumes, bright lights; it sings wonderfully, is richly funny and dances up a storm. This touring production keeps the quality standards of the original.
Based on the 1988 John Waters camp film designed for Devine, Hairspray takes place in 1962 – the 50’s are out and change is in the air but innocence still abounds. Baltimore’s Tracy Tumblad (Keala Settle), a big girl with big hair (and lot’s of hairspray) and an even larger heart, compulsive about dancing. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, “The Corny Collins Show” and, quickly, is transformed from nerd girl to local teen celebrity. We witness this plus size girl try to win the heart of cutie Link Larkin (Aaron Tveit) and integrate the TV show and vanquish the reigning princess and her nasty mother. The result is an evening of fun, laughter and fabulous showstopping dance numbers. Better than Bye, Bye Birdie and Grease, Hairspray is the ultimate ‘baby-boomer’ musical. I can relate to the era (I graduated high school in 1962) and Hairspray speaks to me in a theatrical fantasy romp. It is pure nostalgia. This show reaches everyone. It is a toe-tapping spoof of the innocence of the early 1960’s.
 |
Hairspray won 8 Tony Awards – Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score, Best Director, Best Actress in a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical, Best Featured Actor in a Musical and Best Costume Design in 2003. Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan wisely took the best of what made the film a cult classic and added in new ideas to create a story that is timeless (the need to fit in), funny (without having to rely on vulgarity or cheap laughs), socially significant (tackling prejudice based on both race and body type), romantic and the perfect balance of reality and camp.
 |
The score by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman contains songs uniformly possessing infectiously energizing melodies, skillfully crafted lyrics complete with witty double meanings, and toe-tapping rhythms that are simply irresistible. It is refreshing to hear rock based songs sung so as to understand the lyrics. The songs mirror the musical styles of the period, including old-fashion rock-n’-roll, R & B, gospel with some Broadway and vaudeville thrown in.
With a loud, but not too loud orchestra, the Cadillac Palace Theatre rocks from the cute “Good Morning Baltimore “ where we meet Tracey, played by Keala Settle whose singing is terrific, dances divinely and she possesses enough charm and cuteness to woo audiences. Settle’s energy is infectious and she knows how to garner a laugh or two.
J.P. Dougherty wisely doesn’t try to imitate the huge presence that Harvey Fierstein gave Edna in the original Broadway production. Rather Dougherty sings and articulates better and delivers several effective spurts of uncontrolled laughter during his vaudevillian love song duet “Timeless To Me” with Jim J.Bullock as Wilbur in a tribute to old-time vaudevillian tradition. Doughety lands many laughs as Tracy’s mother, Edna.
In Hairspray, dance rules. Not since 42nd Street has Broadway witnessed more alive, high-voltage dance numbers. With outstanding choreography from Jerry Mitchell flawlessly performed full-blast by an exemplary ensemble led by Alan Mingo, Jr., as Seaweed J. Stubbs, and Aaron Tveit, as Link, the pretty boy who sings and dances into Tracy’s heart. The dancer ensemble blasts each number with a controlled abandonment! There are so many showstoppers in Hairspray, my hands hurt from clapping!
Charlotte Crossley as Motormouth Maybelle brings down the house with her spirited and poignant song “I Know Where I’ve Been.” The “Welcome to the 60’s” number is MoTown revisited. “Without Love” is a classic rock ballad and the finale, “You Can Stop the Beat” instantly became one of the most memorable Broadway finales ever.
Hairspray is a plus size beehive of entertainment with a warm message, an innocent heart that never tries to be anything but a cheerful cartoon fable. Full of funny lines, self-help messages and warm characters, Hairspray is a universal show that leaves you with a smile on your face as you dance down the aisle. The bubblegum sweetness of Hairspray is old-fashion heart, something cynics abhor but audiences crave. Hairspray proves that the Broadway musical is alive and flourishing. The rousing ending will leave you breathless.
When you get shutout trying to get tickets to Wicked, chose Hairspray. You’ll be glad you did since Hairspray is the better show.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com
Chicago Stage Talk Radio Show
December 8, 2005
Buy The CD from this show now:
|
