‘Hairspray’ show will hold your attention
It was easy to be blown away by “Hairspray,” the Marc Shaiman musical based on John Waters’ cult film, at Sooner Theatre, 101 E Main.
The production quickly built up an “all-singing, all-dancing” momentum that spectators wanted to be swept away by, not try to resist.
Principals were excellent, but the old building’s own “Sooner Magic,” seemed to rub off on all members of the large cast, directed by Jennifer Teel.
Projections of old blackand-white television commercials gave way to projections of the performers in the musical on the high screen above their heads.
Phoebe Butts was a ball of energy as Tracy Turnblad, the “plus-size” teen whose dream of being on a local TV dance show morphs into a wish to integrate it, too.
After singing of her love for her hometown in “Good Morning Baltimore,” Turnblad had to face the big problem of early1960steens — getting out of the house!
Telegraphing this daunting obstacle, with charming, semaphore-like choreography, were Tracy, her friends, and their parents, in “Mama I’m A Big Girl Now.”
It was followed by equal time for Danielle Flesher Webb, as one of the main villains, Velma, the mother of Tracy’s chief rival, and a former Miss Teen Hairspray.
Webb as Velma belted out “Miss Baltimore Crabs,” brilliantly, accenting it by using her hands like real crabs, or castanets, you couldn’t hear but see.
Ending Act One with a flourish were two numbers in which black cast members came to the fore, “Run And Tell That,” and “Big, Blonde and Beautiful.”
Leading these with great panache were Campbell Walker Fields as Seaweed, Kamilla Quiambao as Little Inez and Chanda Graham as the unstoppable Motormouth Maybelle.
Nearly stealing the show in Act Two were Eric Key and David Mays as Tracy’s parents, Wilbur and Edna.
In front of the curtain, like vaudevillians, Key in drag and the much shorter Mays seemed to touchingly find themselves and each other all over again in “You’re Timeless To Me.”
Laura Renfro, as rival teen queen Amber, delivered “Cooties” with relish, and Jace Appling, as Link, made us feel for him, torn between Amber, Tracy and becoming a teen idol.
Extremely engaging and adaptable, like a chameleon able to change colors with his jazzy outfits, was Mark Ledbetter, as host of the wildly popular “Corny Collins Show.”
Other major assets were music director Mervin Tay, choreographer Mackay Adams and set designer Michael Todd, along with Evie Lawson, as Tracy’s best friend, Penny.
Ending with the nearly irresistible “You Can’t Stop The Beat,” Parts One and Two, “Hairspray” is highly recommended and shouldn’t be missed.