19,650 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 23, 2024 12:47:10 GMT
Merged again
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4,968 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Sept 7, 2024 23:31:08 GMT
So saw this today in Milton Keynes.
I really like Hairspray it is my third favourite musical of all time after Les Miserables and Billy Elliot. Hairspray is a beloved musical with the British and the name sells itself, it must have made millions over here and that is the problem. As the producers see this as an easy pound to be made. To be fair as much as I love Hairspray the production is atrocious and is cheap on every level from casting to the set. The 1st National Tour set was basic and had no real complexity but was functional and did the job. The fourth wall breaking ‘timeless to me’ is done with just the pink curtain behind upstage, they just use what is the existing set. The actress who plays Tracy Turnball should be a flabby actress, as weight is one of the ‘isms’ the show confronts, this Tracy looks the exact opposite, however she played the role well despite being unsuitable. The rest of the cast are enjoyable, despite being average.
Well this thousand dollar production, where every pound is counted and banked. The 1st National set was used at the joyous London Coliseum production, so that set exists.
Saying that the last song ‘You can’t stop the beat,’ well you can’t stop me from clapping and tapping my foot as it is always going to be joyous to me, even though the production fails.
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Post by capybara on Oct 25, 2024 12:18:03 GMT
My first experience of Hairspray, having never seen the film or any previous productions, and it’s basically exactly what I’d been expecting. It’s big, it’s camp, it’s retro and it’s a lot of fun.
Although I can’t see myself replaying the score as I do with lots of musicals, every number was a bop. Clearly the show is all leading up to the crescendo that is the joyous ‘You Can’t Stop The Beat’ but almost every tune is a toe-tapper.
Despite explicitly dealing with racial segregation in 1960s America, it never gets especially deep or heavy, which works for this loud (very loud sat near the speaker!) production. I love fast-paced, high-octane choreo and Drew McOnie has delivered that here.
The company work hard and do a great job, with Katie Brace shining as Tracy, while Freya McMahon is a star as Penny. A highlight was also Michelle Ndegwa as Maybelle, while Joanne Clifton was deliciously panto villainesque as Velma.
The most disappointing aspect, however, was the set. I hate productions relying on projections and would prefer the see them be more creative. It doesn’t have to be lavish to be good.
Three stars.
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