Stage Review – Hairspray
The smash hit musical Hairspray has burst onto the stage at Milton Keynes Theatre this week with a spectacular feelgood show overflowing with energy.
This is a show which will leave you humming the songs and dancing your way out of the theatre and certainly left everyone grinning afterwards. With a live band and some great costumes, this is a show which doesn’t need to rely on expensive sets or gimmicks to entertain.
Fans of the show will know exactly what to expect and returning after its previous sell out run in Milton Keynes, it seems there’s an endless enthusiasm for this story which has a strong social commentary underpinning the happy singing and dancing.
In 1962 Baltimore, Tracy Turnblad is a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart as she follows her dreams to dance her way onto national TV. Her audition makes her a local star and she uses her new-found fame to fight for equality, bagging local heartthrob Link Larkin along the way.
Newcomer Rebecca Mendoza is a perfect Tracy and seems to be absolutely loving every second of the show, putting so much energy into her performance it’s almost exhausting to watch. She is almost upstaged by the brilliant Layton Williams as Seaweed who is clearly an amazing talent, backflipping and somersaulting around the stage.
TV star Norman Pace, one half of double act Hale and Pace plays Tracy’s Dad Wilbur, although he was replaced by understudy Graham MacDuff on press night who gave a great performance alongside Matt Rixon as Edna. Special mention should also go to showstopping diva Brenda Edwards as Motormouth Maybelle.
This is a great production of Hairspray with a talented cast who really give it 100% and will delight fans and those new to the show. From the reception to this show, it looks set to become a regular visitor to Milton Keynes Theatre.
Hairspray runs until Saturday 14th April 2018 at Milton Keynes Theatre. Tickets are available online at atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes