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I can Hear the Bells, and they are the sound of the smash-hit musical Hairspray hitting the stage of the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. It’s a show that features hit after hit of toe-tapping music, the show that says Welcome to the 60’s, and guarantees to remind you that you are Big, Blonde and Beautiful. If you think I’m done with the cheesy song references in this review, you would be wrong!
Hairspray is undoubtedly one of the best musicals of our time, with a soundtrack that trumps the rest. If you’re unfamiliar with the story of Hairspray, it’s about a young girl named Tracy Turnblad who has dreams of becoming a dancer on her favourite TV show. Tracy is greeted with negativity by the producers for being a plus-sized girl, but that doesn’t stop her. Tracy quickly realises that her body image is a small problem in the media compared to the segregation faced by those with a different skin colour. Tracy risks her career to stand-up for her black peers and say no to racism and segregation. It’s one of those shows that seems light-hearted on the surface but has a deep and powerful message that is not to be ignored. The writing of the show is spectacular at addressing important topics in a way that is engaging and enjoyable.
Photo: Ellie Kurttz
Making her professional debut as protagonist Tracy Turnblad is Alexandra Emmerson-Kirby, an incredibly talented performer who has certainly made her mark on the industry already and set a high standard for future Tracy’s to come. The entire cast of this production have voices that make the hairs on your arms stand up in delight; they are performers of raw talent who work hard to bring fantastic energy to this show. A notable mention must go to Michelle Ndegwa as Motormouth Maybelle who’s voice is out-of-this-world. Hairspray is famous for characters Edna and Wilbur Turnblad, Tracy’s parents, who share a wonderful moment together when they sing (You’re) Timeless To Me. The actors have free reign to improvise some lines and jokes during this part of the show, it’s clear that Neil Hurst (Edna) and Dermot Canavan (Wilbur) have a great time doing this, as they broke character many times laughing along with the audience at their silliness, which was joyful to watch as an audience member.
Photo: Ellie Kurttz
Compared to some musical shows that go big on staging and set design, the creatives of the Hairspray UK tour have chosen to keep it simple, using projections as background settings and minimal props and staging elements. I was unsure about this choice at first, wondering if it might be a detriment to the show, but I soon realised that Hairspray is all about the story and the characters, and that the choice to keep the other elements of the production simple allow the performers to stand out and bring the show to life. My only complaint is that some technical aspects of the show weren’t polished, for example there seemed to be feedback on microphones and some of them were turned up too loud, making the singing a little harsh on the ears during some high notes.
It’s time to say Good Morning Baltimore and meet The Nicest Kids in Town while Hairspray has a short but sweet run of its’ tour in Cardiff. It’s in the Wales Millennium Centre until this Saturday 3rd August. You Can’t Stop the Beat of this show leaving you with a lasting memory. Okay, I’m done with the puns… for now. Find out more about the show and book your tickets here: https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2024/hairspray
