Hairspray – Review – Bradford Alhambra
By Christine Goode, November 2024
It’s cold, dark, and wet outside in Bradford—better get your ‘Hairspray’ on! If you don’t have any, you’ll find plenty of it inside Bradford Alhambra. One of musical theatre’s favourite comedy hit shows has landed, opening to a packed theatre. A firm favourite of many, fans of all ages flocked to see this feel-good show, knowing they were in for a great night of entertainment—and guess what? This production does not disappoint!
It’s the 1960s, and we meet Tracy Turnblad, a confident, plus-sized girl who dreams of dancing on The Corny Collins Show. When the opportunity arises, her dreams come true, especially when she meets dreamboat Link Larkin and falls in love with him. However, Tracy’s journey isn’t easy; she faces controversial hurdles about her body type, which pale in comparison to the impact of segregation during this time. She throws herself into the anti-racism movement, making it her mission to help bring about change.
“Boundless energy”
Despite the serious subject matter, the show manages to convey its message through upbeat songs and humour. There are a few cheeky jokes that fly over the heads of the younger audience members, but the message still comes through loud and clear.
The soundtrack is brilliant, spanning 60s swing, blues, rhythm, and everything in between—every song is a winner! Toe-tapping favourites such as ‘Good Morning Baltimore’, ‘Welcome to the 60s’, ‘Without Love’, and ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ will have you singing for days afterwards. Fans of the film who haven’t yet seen the stage production will notice two additional songs: ‘The Big Dollhouse’ and ‘Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now’. You, my friends, are in for an extra treat!
The whole cast is superb, with exceptional performances by Katie Brace as Tracy Turnblad. She is wonderful, delivering a non-stop, romping lead performance with boundless energy, hilarious facial expressions, strong vocals, and excellent characterisation. Joanne Clifton shines as the villain, Velma Von Tussle. She demonstrates her Strictly Come Dancing skills while brilliantly portraying the pushy mother/producer character. Michelle Ndegwa as Motormouth Maybelle also deserves a mention—her impressive vocals, reminiscent of Etta James, gave me goosebumps! Neil Hurst as Edna Turnblad and Dermot Canavan as Wilbur Turnblad steal the show, especially during their duet You’re Timeless to Me, which had the audience in stitches (as well as themselves), earning a huge cheer and a massive round of applause from an audibly excited crowd.
“Bold”
Set design by Takis is simple yet effective, incorporating modern technology to make full use of the stage while housing the orchestra at the back. Brightly coloured lighting by Philip Gladwell adds glitz to the production, complemented by swinging 60s-style costumes featuring bold, swirly patterns and contrasting colours. Completed with bouffant hairdos, the design effortlessly transports the audience back to the fun-loving, swinging 60s.
The atmosphere on stage and in the auditorium is palpable. The lady in front of me was dancing in her seat, and by the final bows, a delighted audience gave a well-deserved standing ovation. As we headed home, the party continued in the car park—the car in front of me was filled with excited theatregoers reliving the best moments as they blasted out ‘Big, Blonde and Beautiful’. Their windows were wide open for all to hear, creating a ripple of wide grins as they drove past fellow fans who had clearly loved Hairspray!
‘Hairspray’ is at Bradford Alhambra until 30th November
images: Ellie Kurtz
