• Review For Us
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2022
    • Edinburgh News
    • Edinburgh Previews
    • Edinburgh Interviews
    • Edinburgh Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2022
    • Edinburgh News
    • Edinburgh Previews
    • Edinburgh Interviews
    • Edinburgh Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews
Lizzie Bea as Tracy Turnblad and Jonny Amies as Link Larkin credit Tristram Kenton

Lizzie Bea as Tracy Turnblad and Jonny Amies as Link Larkin credit Tristram Kenton

Review: Hairspray The Musical at The London Coliseum

"big, bold, and beautiful"

by Greg Stewart
June 29, 2021
Reading Time: 5 mins read

Five Star Review from Theatre WeeklyIt’s official, the West End is back! A global pandemic may have delayed, but it certainly couldn’t stop, the beat, as the ultimate feel-good musical; Hairspray, finally arrives at London Coliseum, a year later than it was first scheduled to run.   The iconic show based in 1960’s Baltimore, with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, proves itself once again as the tonic we all so desperately need.

Continued social distancing requirements mean that for now, the Coliseum’s capacity is limited to an audience of a thousand, less than half of what the gargantuan venue can usually hold. But Hairspray The Musical manages to whip its audience in to such a frenzy, it feels like the auditorium is bursting at the seams with theatregoers determined to enjoy themselves.

Sixteen-year-old Tracy Turnblad has an all-consuming desire to dance on The Corny Collins Show, and even dares to dream of taking the title of Miss Teenage Hairspray 1962. Tracy is an underdog, the kind of girl that doesn’t necessarily fit in to a TV executives mold, if it were not her size, it would be her socio-economic background, or youthful naivety, that held her back.  But this musical about hopes and dreams, does see Tracy land a spot on the dance show, and with it she brings the fight to end racial segregation, all while landing the boy of her dreams.

       

With so many musicals currently being adapted for the big screen, it’s easy to forget that Hairspray came to us first via the cinema in the late eighties.  It was that loveable, tacky movie that was then turned in to a Broadway musical. Perhaps the main reason it has become such an enduring success is down to director Jack O’Brien (who also directs here).  O’Briens talent for weaving serious themes in to a comedy is evident, those issues of prejudice are given the prominence they deserve, neither detracting from, or being diluted by, the upbeat nature of the show.

Had Hairspray opened as planned, it would have been running as the Black Lives Matter movement took to the streets in protest. Despite ostensibly being a comedy musical, Hairspray depicts its own form of protest, and the aspects of segregation and prejudice cut even deeper following events in the US and across the world.  Marisha Wallace, in the role of Motormouth, received a standing ovation mid-show for the iconic ‘I Know Where I’ve Been’, and its no wonder, not only is the song a vital piece of commentary, Wallace’s performance was outstanding.

You mightalso like

Sister Act The Musical credit Manuel Harlan

Review: Sister Act The Musical at The Eventim Apollo

Les Dennis

Les Dennis Joins Cast of Only Fools and Horses The Musical

It is overall a very strong cast that leads Hairspray The Musical back to the West End.  Michael Ball reprises his Olivier Award winning role of Edna Turnblad, turning on a gruff voice at pertinent moments, much to the delight of the swooning audience.  Les Dennis makes a welcome addition to the cast as Wilbur, and while the role is under written in the first half, Dennis injects it with more than healthy dose of down to earth comedy.

We’ve been waiting a very long time to see Lizzie Bea make her debut as a lead in the West End, and it’s been worth every second. Bea plays the part of Tracy Turnblad to pure perfection, aside from stunning vocals, Bea’s energy lights up the stage, and the demanding role seems to pose no problems for this talented performer.

Jonny Amies (also making his West End debut) is the suave and cocky Link, while the pairing of Mari McGinlay (Penny) and Ashley Samuels (Seaweed) works extremely well.

Hairspray is responsible for a string of recognisable music numbers, and it’s Jerry Mitchell’s breathtakingly spirited and dynamic choreography that is the icing on the cake, you can feel the audience around you just itching to get to their feet and join in with the fast paced, knock-your-socks-off routines.

       

In the toughest of circumstances, Hairspray The Musical has remained steadfastly firm.  Other productions have opened before it, but few of them have felt so big, bold, and beautiful. It’s impossible not to be enamoured by the catchy tunes, bright colours, and dazzling stage presence of the cast.  In these troubling times, if Hairspray can’t cure what ails us, then nothing can.

Hairspray The Musical at The London Coliseum credit Tristram Kenton

1 of 8
- +
Michael Ball as Edna Turnblad and Company c Tristram Kenton
Hairspray London Coliseum copy
Jonny Aimes as Link Larkin c Tristram Kenton
Kimani Arthur as Little Inez c Tristram Kenton
Kimani Arthur as Little Inez Marisha Wallace as Motormouth Maybelle and Ashley Samuels as Seaweed J Stubbs c Tristram Kenton
Les Dennis as Wilbur Turnblad and Michael Ball as Edna Turnblad c Tristram Kenton
Lizzie Bea as Tracy Turnblad Michael Ball as Edna Turnblad and Les Dennis as Wilbur Turnblad c Tristran Kenton
Mari McGinley as Penny Pingleton and Ashley Samuels as Seaweed J Stubbs c Tristram Kenton
ADVERTISEMENT

1. Michael Ball as Edna Turnblad and Company c Tristram Kenton

Michael Ball as Edna Turnblad and Company c Tristram Kenton

2. Hairspray London Coliseum copy

Hairspray London Coliseum copy

3. Jonny Aimes as Link Larkin c Tristram Kenton

Jonny Aimes as Link Larkin c Tristram Kenton

4. Kimani Arthur as Little Inez c Tristram Kenton

Kimani Arthur as Little Inez c Tristram Kenton

5. Kimani Arthur as Little Inez Marisha Wallace as Motormouth Maybelle and Ashley Samuels as Seaweed J Stubbs c Tristram Kenton

Kimani Arthur as Little Inez Marisha Wallace as Motormouth Maybelle and Ashley Samuels as Seaweed J Stubbs c Tristram Kenton

6. Les Dennis as Wilbur Turnblad and Michael Ball as Edna Turnblad c Tristram Kenton

Les Dennis as Wilbur Turnblad and Michael Ball as Edna Turnblad c Tristram Kenton

7. Lizzie Bea as Tracy Turnblad Michael Ball as Edna Turnblad and Les Dennis as Wilbur Turnblad c Tristran Kenton

Lizzie Bea as Tracy Turnblad Michael Ball as Edna Turnblad and Les Dennis as Wilbur Turnblad c Tristran Kenton

8. Mari McGinley as Penny Pingleton and Ashley Samuels as Seaweed J Stubbs c Tristram Kenton

Mari McGinley as Penny Pingleton and Ashley Samuels as Seaweed J Stubbs c Tristram Kenton

       
Greg Stewart

Greg Stewart

Greg is an award-winning writer with a huge passion for theatre. He has appeared on stage, as well as having directed several plays in his native Scotland. Greg is the founder and editor of Theatre Weekly

Related Articles

Sister Act The Musical credit Manuel Harlan
Reviews

Review: Sister Act The Musical at The Eventim Apollo

Les Dennis
News

Les Dennis Joins Cast of Only Fools and Horses The Musical

. SISTER ACT. Beverley Knight Deloris van Cartier and The Company. Photo Manuel Harlan
First Look

First Look: Sister Act at The Eventim Apollo

The United Ukrainian Ballet Giselle
News

United Ukrainian Ballet perform Alexei Ratmansky’s Giselle in London to support Ukraine

Boo.kay Co Creative Director Adam Perry at the London pop up at the London Coliseum
Interviews

Interview: Adam Perry on boo•kay at The London Coliseum for My Fair Lady

. SISTER ACT In Rehearsal. Jennifer Saunders Mother Superior and the Company. Photo Manuel Harlan
First Look

First Look: Sister Act The Musical at The Eventim Apollo in Rehearsal

Comments 1

  1. Pingback: Review: Sister Act The Musical at The Eventim Apollo - Theatre Weekly

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, Kemp House, 152 - 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Join Our Community
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Good Luck Studio

Mischief Announce Cast of Good Luck Studio

Cast of Trump LOeil

Cast announced for UK premiere of Trump L’Oeil – A Musical

© 2020 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2022
    • Edinburgh News
    • Edinburgh Previews
    • Edinburgh Interviews
    • Edinburgh Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2020 Theatre Weekly