Reviewed by Emily Crombie
Producer, Mark Goucher says “theatre has an obligation to both educate and entertain” and Hairspray certainly does that!
My eight-year-old daughter was very excited to visit the King’s Theatre last night (2 October 2017) with me for the opening night of Hairspray. We were captivated from start to finish and loved singing along to the musical numbers. Seated in row D of the Grand Circle where we had good visibility of the stage.
Based on the book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan and the film by John Waters, Hairspary has been gracing our stages since it opened on Broadway in 2002. Hairspray won eight of the thirteen Tony Awards it was nominated for in 2003.
Making her professional debut, Rebecca Mendoza played the American teen, Tracy Turnblad who wants to be accepted for who she is and fights for racial equality. The Corny Collins Show is the platform for these teens in Hairspray’s 1960’s Baltimore where once a month there was a day dedicated as ‘negro day’ as black and white were not allowed to dance together. Tracy leads the way to fight for this segregation to be ended. It is loosely based on real events that resulted in this integration on television.
Gina Murray plays the TV show producer and overbearing mother, Velma Von Tussle with the required sass and Brenda Edwards is born for the role of Motormouth Maybelle.
Hairspray has a fabulous musical score with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics from Scott Whittman and Marc Shaiman. You can’t help but sign along to its many big number such as Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now, Welcome to the 60’s and You Can’t Stop the Beat.
The King’s Theatre is on Bath Street, Glasgow. It is well located for easy travel by train, bus or car with on-street parking close by.
Hairspray is an upbeat and inspiring show making it a great night out for all! It runs at the King’s Theatre until Saturday 7th October.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £20.50 to £81 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).
Hairspray is at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow from2-7 October 2017, for more information or to book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com/kings or call the box office on 0844 871 7648.
King’s Theatre, 297 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JN | 0844 871 7648
