Review by David Treadwell
From the rocking opening number (“Good Morning Baltimore”) to the rousing finale (‘You Can’t Stop the Beat”) MSMT’s “ Hairspray ” sends a joyous message of hope and harmony. As Tracy Turnblad , the spirited Baltimore teenager, asks, “Why can’t we all dance together.
The packed Pickard Theater audience clearly got the message, judging from the loud laughter throughout the show and the buzzing commentary at the end. One audience member mused about the incredible dancing, “My feet didn’t move that fast even when I was younger. What talent!”
What talent indeed. Eden Franco delivers a tour de force performance as Tracy, her heart on her sleeve, her emotions always bared, as she takes us along on her triumphant journey, ultimately capturing the title of Miss Teenage Hairspray. (Gotta love the early 1960’s hairdos!)
Eileen Ray Brady, playing Penny Pingleton, Tracy’s loyal friend, twists her body into all manner of shapes as she too experiences growth, emerging as the girlfriend of Seaweed J. Stubbs, the talented African-American dancer who helps lead Tracy to stardom on the Corny Collins teenage dance show. (Gotta love the names.) Incidentally, Eileen Ray Brady said after the show, ‘It was a challenging role, but the director said it was important for us all to keep sight of the major message.”
Robert Anthony Jones, playing Tracy’s mother Edna Turnblad, is an absolute riot, evolving from overprotective mother to proud stage mom, even willing to share her own moves.
The duet between Edna Turnblad and Wilbur Turnblad, played to perfection by Joel Newsome, stopped the show. They cracked each other up and tossed in a few ad libs during their rendition of “You’re Timeless to Me.”
Trevor Wayne, who played the heartthrob Link Larkin, got right into the role of as he decided that it was better to do the right thing — invite everyone to the dance party — rather than the easy thing, maintain the status quo.
Amy Bodnar as Velma von Tussle, and Tori Heinlein, as Amber von Tussle, her look-alike, sneer-alike blonde daughter, played perfect foils for Tracy, Penny and Seaweed, as they clung to the old school, “let’s-keep-the-negroes-in-their-place” mindset so prevalent back in the early 60’s and, it must be said, even today in certain political circles.
And then there was Motormouth Maybelle, played and sung with gusto by Tara Conner Jones, as she led the company in “Big, Blonde & Beautiful” and “I Know Where I’ve Been.”
Dan DeLuca nailed the spirit of dance hosts back in the day, while playing Corny Collins.
The MSMT Orchestra, masterfully led by Conductor David Fiorello, blended perfectly with the spirited moves on stage.
A fire alarm went off at the end of Act I and the audience was asked to leave the theater. It was quickly determined that all was well. Curt Dale Clark. MSMT”s Artistic Director, came on stage before Act II to thank Bowdoin Security and the Brunswick Fire Department for acting quickly and to thank the audience for their cooperation.
Kenny Ingram, the show’s Director/Choreographer laughed off the incident, noting that it proved that “Hairspray” was the hottest show in town.
Curt Dale Clark added, “It’s such a joy to send the audience out of this world.”
(NOTE: “Hairspray” will be playing through June 20 at the Pickard Theater on the campus of Bowdoin College. msmt.org.)
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