08/01/2025
Review: Hairspray At The Mayflower Theatre https://www.voicefmradio.co.uk/community/blogs/reviews/post/review-hairspray-at-the-mayflower-theatre/ Hairspray Photo by Ellie Kurttz
From the moment the music begins and multicoloured lights cast their beams across the audience at The Mayflower Theatre you feel like you are at the biggest party in town.
The curtain rises and we are transported to Baltimore and introduced to Tracy Turnblad, a bubbly, 16 year old, donning a bouffant hairstyle, whose dream is to appear as a dancer on, ‘The Corny Collins Show’.
When John Waters wrote, ‘Hairspray,’ he based the Corny Collins show on a popular teenage television programme, ‘The Buddy Deane Show,’ which was broadcast from Baltimore.
This dance show aired from 1957 to 1964 six days a week and mainly featured white teenagers, apart from every other Friday when black teenagers were allowed to be the stars.
Before I saw the musical I had no idea what the storyline was and assumed it was set in a hair salon. In fact, the main theme surrounds black and white segregation.
Hairspray Photo by Ellie Kurttz
This prejudice is highlighted mainly through Velma Von Tussle’s character, played in true villainesque style with what struck me as similarities to Cruella De Vil, by the beautiful Joanne Clifton. Von Tussle is the producer of the, ‘Corny Collins Show,’ and it is a direct, ‘no,’ when Tracy attends an audition and a stronger, ‘no,’ to Little Inez, a black teenager.
Joanne Clifton is obviously an incredibly talented dancer but I didn’t realise how amazing her singing voice is and she has definitely earned her place as a West End Star.
Katie Brace is the perfect Tracy Turnblad, combining a gentle character with a strong passion for change, in particular, racial segregation.
The energy required for this role is immense as Tracy has a vivacious, expressive personality.
She also sings and dances a great deal throughout. One of my favourite moments was the song, ‘I Can Hear The Bells,’ when she is dreaming about Link Larkin, her crush and singer and dancer on, ‘The Corny Collins Show’.
Solomon Davy was perfect as Link Larkin. He has model looks, the Elvis moves plus a warm heart.
I was in awe of the characterisation depicted by Stuart Hickey who showed his versatile talent by playing several roles, including the principal of Tracy’s high school and Mr Pinky, the owner of a store for plus size women. Kirsty Sparks also created unappealing characters - the abusive, religious mother of Penny Pingleton, Tracy’s best friend, the l***y, le***an, PE Captain and a prison warden of Big Doll House. You could be mistaken for thinking that she is the Wicked Witch of the West in, ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ due to her bent stature and sly facial expressions, but without the green skin tone!
Hairspray Photo by Ellie Kurttz
The two highlights of the show for me were firstly the number, ‘Timeless,’ performed by Tracy’s parents, Edna (Neil Hurst) and Wilbur (Dermot Canavan).
The casting of these two characters couldn’t have been more perfect and the chemistry between them was palpable and so loveable. There were a few moments when they dropped character as they were laughing at certain points during the routine but it was a joy to watch and they had the biggest cheer of the entire show.
Michelle Ndegwa as MotorMouth Maybelle gave a phenomenal performance. She has an amazing stage presence and her rendition of, ‘ I Know Where I’ve Been,’ was full of strength and emotion. T
he image of Martin Luther King surrounded by names of black people who have fought for change was incredibly moving and poignant.
Other members of the cast who deserve a huge mention are Allana Taylor, as Amber Von Tussle, who portrayed the spoilt teenager to a tee whilst looking absolutely beautiful, Freya McMahon as Penny Pingleton, who shed her geeky teenage self and blossomed into a glamorous dancer in love with her boyfriend Seaweed, played by the gifted Reece Richards, who defined cool!
Grace Anyiam, Vanessa Dumatey and Sasha Monique who played, ‘The Dynamites’ were sensational and elegant and have sublime singing voices.
The audience gave a huge cheer and round of applause at the end of Act One and they showed their appreciation at the end of the show by giving the cast and band a well deserved standing ovation. A great night and you could feel the waves of happiness spread across the audience.
You can buy tickers at the Mayflower Theatre
