Presented by: John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia
Reviewed: 31 December, 2022
Adelaide, welcome to the 60s. Hairspray opened at the Adelaide Festival Theatre on New Years Eve, and if the reaction from the opening night crowed was anything to go by, it is going to be the hottest ticket in town this January.
Celebrating it’s twentieth year since opening on Broadway, Hairspray is a music that is so full of life, colour and heart, you cannot help but smile from the very first note of the overture.
Set in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1962, Hairspray tells the story of dance-loving teenager Tracy Turnblad who one day dreams to dance on The Corny Collins Show on television. When Tracy’s dream comes true, she is instantly transformed from social outcast to a sudden star and uses her fame to integrate a TV network, dethrone the reigning Teen Queen and of course, win the heart of teen heartthrob Link Larkin in the process.
The cast are world class, featuring an array of Australian Musical Theatre royalty, some sensational up-and-coming performers and a selection of wonderful overseas performers. Together they produced such an engaging and energetic performance. Their vocal work, as soloists, small groups and as a whole ensemble, is exquisite.
In her debut professional theatre production, Carmel Rodrigues shines as effervescent Tracy Turnblad. Her extreme energy never wavers and she brings so much heart to the role of Tracy. Rodrigues’s performance is endearing and honest, sweeping you into Tracy’s world and the highs and lows that she encounters.
Perfectly cast as Tracy’s parents, Shane Jacobson as Edna and Todd McKenney as Wilbur are excellent. They bounce off each other and bring so much warmth to these roles. Their Act Two duet, (You’re) Timeless To Me, is a show stopper – literally.
Mother and daughter, Velma and Amber Von Tussle were played by musical royalty Rhonda Burchmore and relative new comer Brianna Bishop. Together they brought just the right amounts bitterness and bite to the roles. Bishop perfectly captures the spoilt brat that is Amber. From her battering eyes, behind the back sneers, and even a few aside glances and gestures to the audience, Bishop is brilliant. Seeing Burchmore in a villain role was a surprise. For those of us who know Burchmore, she is naturally a fun-loving, caring and uplifting person, but was surprisingly convincing as ‘the bad guy’ in the show and vocally was well suited.
Bobby Fox was charming and charismatic as TV host Corny Collins. Having recently stepped into the role, Fox’s warm demeanour worked perfectly in the role. Asabi Goodman brings much emotional depth to the role of Motormouth Maybelle. Her stunning vocals melt you in her big number, I Know Where I’ve Been.
Mackenzie Dunn is the perfect Penny Pingleton. Dunn finds plenty of magical comedic moments throughout the show through her innocent persona, especially in the number I Can Hear The Bells. Dunn’s voice is also sensational. She has a brilliant belt, but also has a wonderful softer side as well. The chemistry between Dunn and her love interest in the show, Seaweed J. Stubbs, played by Javon King, certainly raised the heat. King’s dancing is liquid and mesmerising, as is his voice. Amanda Dladla brings a real spark to Little Inez. Her smile instantly lights up the stage and her dancing and vocals are tight and snappy. Heartthrob Link Larkin is perfectly played by Sean Johnston. He had the slick moves, the velvet voice and the sparkle in the eye to leave even the toughest hearts swooning.
The ensemble for Hairspray never missed a beat. Their energy was infectious. Their character work was excellent and oh boy, what sensational vocals. Special mention must go to Donna Lee and Todd Goddard, who each played a vast array of characters. It’s no easy feat switching from character to character within a show, but they did it with ease, and gave the illusion the cast was much larger than it actually was. A final mention must go to Andrea Fleming, Jazz Madison and Kristin Paulse who portrayed The Dynamites in the toe tapping number Welcome To The Sixties. With sublime vocal work all around, these three performers each have a wonderful set of pipes, but together they blend sensationally.
Marc Shaiman’s cracking score was in very safe hands under the music direction of Dave Skelton and the twelve piece band, featuring several seasoned Adelaide musicians. Perfectly balanced with the cast, the band punched out this cracking score that had everyone on their feet dancing by the bows.
David Rockwell’s stunning set design gave off a 1960s cartoonish vibe, with exaggerated angles and bright colours, adding to the larger-than-life feel of the whole show. Jerry Mitchell’s original choreography was tight and snappy, well lit by Kenneth Posner’s colourful design. This show would not be complete without mention of William Ivey Long’s brilliant costume designs, capturing the 60s fashions and complementing the characters’ personalities perfectly.
Grab a can of hairspray, tease up your hair and score yourself one of the remaining tickets to the Adelaide season of Hairspray. There are some strong messages throughout the show that are a reminder of how far we have come as a society, but how far we still have to go in terms of equality. This feel-good production will leave you dancing and humming the songs for days later. You really can’t stop the beat.
Reviewed by: Ben Stefanoff
Venue: Adelaide Festival Theatre
Season: Until 28 January, 2023
Duration: 2 hours, 20mins (including interval)
Tickets: From $75.00
Bookings: https://hairspraymusical.com.au/
Read our interview with Carmel Rodrigues, who plays Tracy Turnblad, here.
Read our interview with Bobby Fox, who plays Corny Collins, here.
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