Review: HAIRSPRAY, Bristol Hippodrome

Setting a musical in 1960s Baltimore, against a backdrop of increasing racial tension between white and black Americans, doesn't exactly scream feel-good musical. Yet Hairspray manages to achieve a rare thing- a musical with all the schmaltz you could want but with just enough of a message stop you forgetting it.

Tracy Turnblad is a girl who doesn't quite fit in. She's not got the blonde hair or the skinny waist of the ideal American, but that doesn't stop her auditioning for a TV show to show off her dancing. Along the way she encounters the expected dirty looks and teasing - but that's nothing compared to the racial segregation experienced by her black classmates.

At a time where young people were discovering rhythm and blues, the show illustrates a turning point, as the younger generation shake off the prejudices of their parents. The musical styles in the show takes us on this journey too - from 50s do-wop tunes through to gospel and Motown.

Of course, history never did run that smoothly and this is certainly no documentary. There's giant novelty cans of hairspray, big song and dance numbers, and a love story that won't win any prizes for originality.

The first half rattles along nicely with plenty of pleasing nods and winks to the decades' music. The jokes about starlets of yesteryear however (Zsa Zsa Gabor anyone?) fall a little flat on a Monday night in Bristol.

Rebecca Mendoza does a terrific job of making us fall for Tracy's wide-eyed naivete, while driving the narrative. The fact it's Mendoza's professional debut makes it all the more impressive. Matt Rixon, as Tracy's mum Edna, falls somewhere between a convincing woman and a panto dame- as a result it doesn't always work.

The second half feels a little sluggish until Brenda Edwards proves why she has been cast as Motormouth Maybelle with a stunning "I Know Where I've Been"- it's by the far the most serious song in the score and it brings the biggest applause of the night.

Then it's the number people have been waiting for - "You Can't Stop The Beat". Even the most stoic among us can't deny its Motown rhythms. It's a song which feels specifically designed to worm its way into your head.

This a musical that bounces along with an energy that even the slightly dowdy staging can't bring down. It's full of heart and never strays into being preachy or over-worthy. It knows what it is and is proud of it. Just like Tracy - and that seems like a fine way to spend an evening.

Hairspray is at Bristol Hippodrome until 10 March

Photo credit: Darren Bell

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