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‘HAIRSPRAY’ BIG HAIR, BIG SHOW, BIG SUCCESS

A sold-out audience shared the experience of the big Broadway musical, “Hairspray” Thursday, April 23, 2009 at Shawnee State University’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts to their utter and sheer delight.

The lyric says “You can’t stop the beat” and that was certainly true as the audience spilled out into the lobby following the show with people singing and dancing as they left.  It is an infectious show based on a snarky John Waters non-musical movie. That the musical rises above its source material to have a great message and two-hours of fun is a testament to the show’s authors (Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Whittman) and this incredible cast on their national tour.

The story is as thin as any classic musical of days gone by but does manage to create a time and place of early 1960’s Baltimore through song and dance.  Heroine Tracy Turnblad wants to dance on TV but her heft and insistence that the African-American kids dance with her creates the drama AND the comedy of the stage production. Will she ever dance on TV and will she find true love in the arms of Link Larkin? Of course she will! This is a non-Sondheim musical so a happy ending is ensured.

The tunes in this show are breezy and hummable from the opening “Good Morning, Baltimore” right through to the end and the ensemble song, “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”  In every show there are singular and stand out performances. “Hairspray” is no exception. Certainly the young lovers of Brooklyn Pulver (Tracy) and Matthew Ragas (Link Larkin) are front and center, but perhaps the show stopper was in Act 2 with “I Know Where I’ve Been” as Lisa Linette belts out the song which embraces the shows message of inclusion and tolerance of others. Her over-the-top performance – in a show filled with over-the-top performances — of Motormouth Maybelle is powerful testament to raw talent on display. She comes in the show late, but her presence is felt and she dominates whatever scene she plays.

The character of Seaweed Snubbs teaches Tracy a dance she uses to get on a popular dance TV show.  The actor, John Edwards, has moves to spare as he sings and dances his way into the hearts of the audience as well as the heart of Tracy’s best friend, Penny Pingleton. It is a black/white relationship that would have been controversial in 1962 but here is just funny as Seaweed is super cool and Penny is, well, white. However Edwards and Amber Rees are funny and sweet and terrific through and through.

This is another example of a cast so full of talent it is hard to single out individuals. Still the role of Edna Turnblad is always played by a man in drag in honor of John Water’s star Devine. Here Jerry O’Bolye steps into the house dress made famous on Broadway by Harvey Fierstein and in the movie by John Travolta and more than holds his own as a woman in a cast with powerful female performances.

In all, the NETworks Presentations production of “Hairspray” deserves the wild and thunderous applause and standing ovations garnered at the VRCFA.  It was a theater experience that everyone there will remember for years and those that missed will regret.

The end is near for this season’s SOPAA season as OSU’s Men’s Glee Club comes for a concert on Tuesday, May 5th at 7:30 PM at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. Tickets are available for this special concert where the official announcement of the 2009-2010 season will be announced. Call the McKinley Box Office at 740-351-3600 or go to any TicketMaster outlet.

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Comments:

Tilly • Apr 24th, 2009 at 11:40 am

This show was GREAT! I loved every minute. The singing and dancing were so good. It was a fun evening. I also enjoyed the lobby display from the hospital. This evening was one of the best I have had for a long time! Thanks to all involved for this show.

Roger • Apr 24th, 2009 at 11:56 am

I have to commend you on a absolutely wonderful show. My wife dragged me kicking and screaming…but I am sure glad she did. I had a great time, and hated to see it end.

Brooke • Apr 24th, 2009 at 12:15 pm

I had so much fun last night. This is the first time I have seen Hairspray, and hope to see it again. What a top quality production.

Chris • Apr 24th, 2009 at 12:52 pm

What a wonderful show! The cast was excellent. We all felt “up” when we left. Seaweed’s Mom sure could sing…great voice! The SOMC lobby display was also very interesting.

Eric • Apr 24th, 2009 at 01:07 pm

This show was really cool. I thought the actors were very good. My friends all enjoyed it too.

Gail • Apr 24th, 2009 at 03:28 pm

I saw Hairspray on Broadway and wondered if I would be disappointed at the “road show”. NO WAY. It was great and easily equaled the show I saw in 2005. The lines were great, the dancing something else and the actors tops. I loved it. I haven’t seen the movie and I am not sure I will. Hairspray is truly a stage show…..

Charlie V • Apr 24th, 2009 at 07:36 pm

Who would have thought that a show this zany and full of fun could have a really serious message? I was floored. It said something very important to me. It said, “We are really more alike than we are different and we should love each other in the way spoken of in the Good Book.”

I loved it start to finish and so did my “date”.

Becky • Apr 25th, 2009 at 10:56 am

What a wonderful evening!! The show was fantastic!! It was so thrilling to watch the enthusiasm of the performers. It was also very exciting to see the reaction of the audience…and nothing is better than a packed house! But isn’t it the BEST when a performer personalizes a performance..at the end when Brooklyn Pulver (Tracy) said “Portsmouth”! I could have burst with excitement and pride. Thanks to SOPAA for all you do to make our community better!

Ken Parks • Apr 26th, 2009 at 04:59 pm

A wonderful show . The cast did a great job . I thought the music was a little loud but that did not offset my overall enjoyment of the total show . Thank you for the show and the message imparted by the show

Jamie • Apr 27th, 2009 at 09:03 am

I loved the show!! We need more great shows like this to come in. I thougt it was wonderful to have a sold out crowd. Thanks to SOPAA. Keep up the great work!! Thanks to SOMC and the SOMC Cancer Center. SOMC is always getting involved in the community and truly making a difference.

Joyce • Apr 27th, 2009 at 10:18 am

WOW! I saw “Hairspray” on Broadway a few years ago, loved it then and loved it this time. I was thrilled that SOPAA brought it to Portsmouth and the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. I/we have not seen the movie and don’t know that I want to – the stage production is fantastic – fun, great music, dancing and a “message” without being preachy. I still laugh when I remember Edna and Wilbur Turnblad breaking up during their number! SOPAA, thank you for continuing to bring outstanding performances to our area!

Ann • Apr 27th, 2009 at 12:06 pm

This was the best show, and coming in a close 2nd “Drowsy Chaperone”. I really appreciate the quality of shows being offered by SOPAA at the VRCFA. I also like the fact that you included some education in the evening. The SOMC display in the lobby was an extra surprise. We are lucky to have such an excellent hospital in Portsmouth. I understand they are a supporter of the shows you put on, and I really appreciate that. I hope you have more of this type of broadway shows coming next year. I suppose you have to offer the orchestras and dancing, but the broadway is the best. Keep them coming!

Wendi • Apr 27th, 2009 at 02:06 pm

Thanks so much to SOPAA for allowing the SOMC Cancer Center the opportunity to display some cancer prevention and awareness education at your wonderful Hairspray event. Our entire group thoroughly enjoyed the show, the cast, the setting and the networking with our community. Keep up the great work that you are doing. Our community is certainly reaping great rewards!!!

Marilyn • Apr 30th, 2009 at 06:23 pm

What a great evening! My mother, sister and daughter-in-law made the night a “girls night out” with dinner and the show. The performance of Hairspray was icing on the cake for us! What a fun show, and wonderful performers. My sister (visiting us from Boston,MA) was so impressed that SOPAA could bring such wonderful, top-quality entertainment to our community. As many of us know, there’s always more to look forward to at the Vern Riffe Center! Bravo!

Jerelou • May 04th, 2009 at 08:45 am

KNOCKOUT!

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