Drama league calling in big wigs

One of the South Canterbury Drama League’s wardrobe mistresses has been scanning the globe for suitable costumes to feature in an upcoming show.

The SCDL junior section’s annual show this year will be a double billing of sorts - the 8-to13-year-olds will feature in Seussical Kids, while those aged 14 to 18 will star in Hairspray Jr, the production that has sparked the global hunt.

Hairspray Jr wardrobe mistress Jill de Joux has been looking near and far to get the right pieces for the upcoming show, with some of the items being shipped from overseas.

‘‘We’ve been scouring all of the secondhand shops since December, looking for retro 1950s gear,’’ de Joux said.

‘‘Luckily we’ve got great secondhand shops in Timaru.’’

Some of the hardest items to find were wigs, and as a result a couple of them were being shipped from Australia and the United States.

‘‘We’ve got to find a wig for Tracy ... Tracy’s hair is really iconic - big, big hair in the bow.’’

Murray’s Barber Shop and Beauty Salon hairstylist Kerri Chambers has also been brought in to assist with hair-styling.

‘‘She is a real 1950s aficionado. So she knows how to do all the back-combing to get the beehives and big hair.’’

The league’s costume wardrobe had a few usable items, but most were for adults, she said.

‘‘It’s been hard finding costumes that fit the small-waisted girls that we have.’’

De Joux said a few people had generously loaned her items of clothing, including a couple of dresses.

While Hairspray was set in 1962, de Joux said it was also set in Baltimore,in the United States, and at that time the city’s residents were still very much in 1950s mode and quite conservative.

However, a couple of 1960s items were required, as by the end of the show lead character Tracy and her best friend Penny had thrown off the 1950s conservatism and moved into the 1960s.

‘‘We’ve got a couple of pairs of new, white Go-Go boots,’’ de Joux said.

‘‘I’m hoping it’s going to be really colourful and bright and fun.’’

Director Alice Sollis said the 90-odd young actors in both shows were working ‘‘really, really hard’’.

‘‘The scripts are down, the actors know their lines. All the singing and dancing has been taught.’’

Sollis said musical director Ella Thomas and choreographer Abby Austin had been teaching all the songs and dance steps; ‘‘which between the two shows is a huge amount of work’’.

Sollis said the bones of the shows were really strong and the production was going well.

‘‘Because we’re doing Hairspray, a show based in the 1960s, there’s a style of make-up and hair, and costuming, that we need to keep true to that era.’’

Hairspray Jr touches on themes of equality and acceptance, while Seussical Kids is based on the writings of well-known children’s author Dr Seuss.

Deb Meynell is wardrobe mistress for Seussical Kids, and Sollis said the costumes looked great.

‘‘ Seussical is just full of imagination and fun.’’

There were 43 children taking part in the show. ‘‘A lot of those kids that age, had we done one show, they wouldn’t have got a lead role,’’ Sollis said.

Seussical Kids and HairsprayJr will run, back to back, at the Theatre Royal from April 12 to 14. Tickets available from dramaleague.org.nz