This was also published for the Front Row Reviewers Website, click here.
SCERA’s
current production of “Hairspray” proves once again that comedy has great power
to enrich an audience when approached from a serious position but allowing the
rich comedy to entertain and leave an audience with sheer joy but also leaving
it with sense of enrichment and their lives made better by experiencing it.
As director Jan Shelton Hunsaker
states in her director’s notes that back in 1962, America was in the midst of a
great civil rights struggle and today we are fighting an even greater one.
Muslims, immigration, the LGBTQ community, modern society’s
views of beauty, obesity, and the list goes on and on. It seems that in every
way, this country is polarizing and people are becoming more distant from one
another. Hairspray celebrates love, life, family, community and through the
heroic and optimistic eyes of the shows heroine, Tracy, we see that we are all
alike and that diversity, acceptance, tolerance are traits that should be
admired and encouraged not ridiculed and discouraged.
Jan Shelton Hunsaker’s
production of “Hairspray” soars onto the stage with this background and message
but taking the wonderful book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, the
fantastic score by March Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and relishing the wonderful
comedy that is this show at its heart. An audience is much more receptive to
soul searching and looking at itself when presented through the rose colored
glasses of musical comedy. All great musical comedies throughout the history of
theater have done this, and “Hairspray” is no exception.
Jan and her brother Brad’s
scenic design captured the heart of the 60’s but with a great musical theater
style and was simple in its presentation. Deborah Bowman’s wonderful costumes
were bright, colorful and a feast for the eyes as well as a great way to
distinguish between characters which helps on the Shell’s large stage and
Deborah is a master at this and her designs never disappoint! Elizabeth
Griffiths lighting was the most elaborate I’ve ever seen on the Shell stage but
helped to convey the energy and excitement of this show.
First and foremost, the ensemble
work in this show was great. The energy was there and I know will continue to
expand and increase in energy each night of the run, which is the nature of
theater itself, and the energy of the ensemble was infectious. Yes, for opening
night the ensemble was not as energetic as they could be, but that’s
understandable for opening night and I know will get better throughout the
course of the run. I saw it in each and every one of them. Chelsea Lindsay’s
Tracy Turnblad was unique and was the first time I had seen an actress play
this role with equal optimism but also realistic expectations and she ended up
being the true heroine of the piece because of the approach Chelsea took towards
the role. From the opening number, I was hooked and rooting for her the entire
evening! Her infectious laugh was endearing and I just wanted to be up on stage
with her taking the journey with her. Tearza
Foyston’s Penny Pingleton was the surprise of the evening. Anyone who knows me
is aware of my feelings towards the recent NBC’s production of this show and
the horrible portrayal that was done with this character; Tearza’s was bright,
funny, endearing and together, she and Tracy were a force to be reckoned with.
Her journey from innocence to allowing herself to have fun and take more risks
was believable and a joy to watch. What can I say about Andrew Lloyd Hunsaker
and his incredible, hilarious and moving portrayal of Tracy’s mother, Edna?
Andrew is an actor I’ve admired and loved for a very long time! He embodies
each of his roles with professionalism and a love for each character he
portrays; Edna is no exception. He took command of the stage every time he was
on and I fell in love with Edna and Tracy’s relationship from the start and
Andrew played this role as it should be, a complex and beautiful wife and
mother, who would do anything for her family. There were many times throughout
the evening I forgot Andrew was playing the role, I only saw Edna! The male
leads, Dennis Wright (Wilbur Turnblad), Jaxon Dayton (Link Larkin), Kristian
Huff (Corny Collins), and Michael Thomas (Seaweed J. Stubbs) were all fun to
watch and each portrayed their characters with integrity and honesty. Our
villains: Leslie Preator-Keckley (Velma Von Tussle) and Sasha Sloan (Amber Von
Tussle) were hilarious and fun and I loved the fact they didn’t portray them as
cardboard villains; they are human, a product of their time, and in the end
join the community and there is some hope for them. Last but not least, the
incredible Luseane Pasa as Motormouth Maybelle. What a shining star! This is my
favorite character in the show and Luseane brought such integrity and
compassion to the role and is the one that brings the message of the show to
the audience, the great 11 o’clock number, “I Know Where I’ve Been.” A final
compliment to Daisy Allred as Little Inez; what a wonderful character and her
energy was infectious the entire evening; thank you for making a small
character so big and full of life.
Finally, to Tiffany Winkel
Nutter. You did such a wonderful job with the music and your choreography was
unique and added so much to the production. There was dance in portions that I
have never seen dance in before, and it added so much to those scenes and to
the portrayal of the story. It’s a big job to handle such a large ensemble, and
you did it with professionalism and great style. Welcome back to Utah! I missed
you!
Thank you to SCERA for producing
this great piece of musical theater. This is a show not to be missed! If you’ve
never seen it before, get yourself down to Orem and experience what is
“Hairspray.” You will not regret it! I had a great evening!
