Photo Credit: Ross Zentner
Filmmaker John Waters, known for his irreverent humor, considered his movie Hairspray, set in 1962, to be “a comedy about integration,” but it goes beyond that. Hairspray champions the underdog, addresses racism and encourages self-acceptance. The movie has since inspired an award-winning Broadway musical.
Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Hairspray, directed by Chicago’s Lili-Anne Brown, provided its audience with nonstop entertainment, from the bouffant hairstyles and poufy dresses to hilarious singing numbers and larger-than-life sets (most notably, a giant aerosol can of hairspray in the show’s final scene). Ryan Cappleman’s imaginative choreography, including an ingenious scene of the characters playing dodge ball in a high school gym in slow motion and several tap dance numbers, was executed flawlessly by the talented cast members. The many area high schoolers who make up the Youth Ensemble were especially enjoyable to watch.
Chicago actress Maisie Rose sparkled as Tracy Turnblad—a teenage plain Jane mercilessly teased for her weight but who dreams of appearing as a dancer on the “Corny Collins Show” (inspired by a Baltimore program of which Waters was an avid fan as a youngster). Tracy hopes to win the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin (Colin Schreier), who’s going steady with beautiful blonde mean girl Amber Von Tussle (deliciously played by Amber Smith).
Tommy Novak (Edna Turnblad) and David Flores (Wilbur Turnblad) made a winning team as Tracy’s eccentric but warm-hearted parents. Other standout performances included Samantha Sostarich as the bigoted, underhanded Velma Von Tussle, mother of Amber; Ann Delaney as Peggy Pingleton, Tracy’s awkward best friend; Bethany Thomas as the silky voiced DJ Motormouth Maybelle, a champion of civil rights; and Gilbert Domally as Seaweed, Tracy’s smooth-talking pal with cutting-edge dance moves.
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Through Dec. 30 at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. For tickets, call 414-291-7800 or visit skylightmusictheatre.org.
