Hairspray (The Arts Club) [theatre review]

This year has been very challenging so I have been seeing A LOT LESS theatre. In many ways, I wish I was four people to do everything I want. But I’m really glad that I waited this long, the tail end of The Arts Club’s Hairspray amazing run. It was SO WORTH IT. You need to check it THIS WEEKEND, as the last show is July 10th.

Last night, I took my Mom and JT for dinner to Joey Broadway and then to experience Hairspray at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Theatre. The summary on The Arts Club doesn’t really do justice to a superb ensemble of talented actors/singers/dancers who provided a full theatre with an exuberant showcase of dancing skills, vocal talent and funny quips.

Amidst the doo-wop and sock-hops of ‘60s Baltimore, pleasantly plump Tracy Turnblad won’t let popular Amber Von Tussle squash her dream of dancing on a local TV teen variety show. Can a girl with big ideas (and really big hair!) change the world…and win the heart of dreamy Link Larkin? Welcome to the ‘60s!

Jay Brazeau as Edna Turnblad (Tracy’s mother) was stellar (I can’t get over the fact that he’s such a great singer and dancer with all that make-up and voluptuous women attires). Adam Charles (Link Larkin) is extremely talented and Jennie Neumann (Tracy) has a privileged voice. All the cast is extremely talented (I was particularly impressed with Jak Barradell, Darren Burkett and Kimberly Gelera). But the one who I think steals the show is Alana Hibbert as Motormouth Maybelle. AND she is a Vancouverite, from what I read. Outstanding voice.

The choreography shines through the amazing moves of this talented cast, the story flows extremely easily and fast (hard to believe it’s more than 2 hours long!) and at the end, the cast made us all stand and dance with them, which we all very obediently did. Numbers I absolutely adored included Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now, Without Love and obviously You Can’t Stop The Beat”. I think that this kind of musical is one of those where you are allowed to dance, clap, scream, yell and applaud as loud as you can. Our seat partners (a lovely couple, she looked incredibly like Cassidy Freeman) were also a lot of fun to chat with during intermission and towards the end.

Saying goodbye with a thunderous applause and a standing ovation, the cast gave us a quick replay of You Can’t Stop the Beat so that we could dance in our seats for a bit. I can’t recommend the show enough, and I seriously hope my readers will get a chance to check it out. You can get tickets here.

Disclosure: I was given media tickets by The Arts Club for me and my guests. The Arts Club has made it explicit that I have no obligation nor commitment to write a review at all. I am not paid to write the review. In any review I write, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

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