Hairspray – The Musical At Kilworth House Theatre, North Kilworth Review
TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.
Reviewed by Vickie Njoroge
Hairspray at Kilworth House Theatre – Lutterworth Road, North Kilworth, Leicestershire, LE17 6JE Box Office Tel: 01858 881939 (Open Mon-Fri, 9-5:30pm) 27th June – 6th August 2023
Rating: 5/5 star rating. My fella said it was amazing!
Hairspray, the Broadway Musical, is set in Baltimore in the early 1960s. Although I had heard of it before, I had never seen it and what a show it is! We listened to the soundtrack as we drove to the venue and the tunes were so catchy that I was able to join in with them during the performance and the final song “You can’t stop the beat” has stayed with me all day.
Tracy Turnblad, played perfectly by Charlotte- Hannah Jones, is a teenager who dreams of becoming a dancer on “The Corny Collins Show”. She has her heart set on auditioning for the show, even though her mother fears she will face ridicule due to her weight. The story-line follows her journey to stardom, including a prison stay.
The show is packed full of toe-tapping songs, brightly-coloured scenery and beautiful costumes that transport the audience right back to a time of change in American history, when racial segregation was still very much the norm.
Hairspray tackles many themes, first and foremost for me is the battle for racial integration that took place during this time. The performance of Ayesha Maynard, as Motormouth Maybelle, and ensemble cast – of “I know where I’ve been” was extremely moving and brought the audience to a silence and me to tears, certainly rivalling the performance of Queen Latifah herself.
Another theme that chimed with me was the relationship between parent and child that swings between a need to protect your child from disappointment and harm and, at the same time, encourage them to step forward and reach for the stars. Tracy’s parents, with mum ( a character who I could really relate to) played brilliantly by Michael J Batchelor in pantomime dame-esc style and dad played with well-timed humour by Steven Serlin. Their duet “You’re timeless to me” was both funny and heart-warming, interacting with the audience and making us laugh with their double entendres.
Superficiality was another theme that was represented, challenging the idea that thin equals beautiful and how the range of “everyday, normal” people should be represented positively in the media, rather than just those who look perfect – a theme that is still at the forefront today.
From start to finish, Charlotte-Hannah Jones performed her role as Tracy with unending energy, style and precision and her vocals were amazing. Her talent was matched by the rest of the cast and they very much deserved the standing ovation they received following a finale that had the audience singing, clapping and dancing in their seats.
Having never been to Kilworth House Theatre before, I didn’t really know what to expect. Kilworth House is easy to find, just off Junction 20 of the M1 and there is plenty of parking within the 38 acres of grounds of this beautiful hotel. With the theatre being open-air, I wasn’t sure what to take in order to cater for the weather on this chilly summer’s evening. An FAQ search told me that the theatre was covered by canvas so there was no danger of getting wet and, although it DID rain, this did not distract me from the show that had me (and my guest) gripped from the start. I settled for wearing layers and taking a blanket but it was great to see that, for a donation to the charity Breast Cancer Now, the theatre provides fleece blankets for hire to ensure the audience is comfortable. What a great idea!
With a large, well-organised bar and extensive toilet block, all other needs are well met. The staff were easy to spot and both friendly and helpful, providing help with parking, seating and any other needs. Refreshments were available and the facilities were clean and well maintained in a beautiful woodland setting. The venue is also easily accessible by wheelchair users.
If you wish to make a night of it, for just £35 a head, there is the option to book a three-course dinner followed by coffee and petit fours before the show, to be eaten in the Hotel’s Orangery Restaurant. For £174 per person, you can book a theatre break package that includes dinner, show, bed and breakfast – an ideal gift for someone special.