Hairspray the Musical

Hairspray Poster
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Released in the USA on 13 July 2007 and in the UK on 20 July 2007, this new version of Hairspray, directed by Adam Shankman, was an instant hit.

After all who could resist John Travolta playing a woman in a fat suit and
Christopher Walkern playing a "goody" for a change?

The Cast

John Travolta - Edna Turnblad

Michelle Pfeiffer - Velma Von Tussle

Christopher Walken - Wilbur Turnblad

Amanda Bynes - Penny Pingleton

James Marsden - Corny Collins

Queen Latifah - Motormouth Maybelle

Brittany Snow - Amber Von Tussle

Zac Efron - Link Larkin

Nikki Blonsky - Tracy Turnblad

Jerry Stiller - Mr. Pinky

Jerry Stiller played Wilbur Turnblad in the original movie

Zac Efron as Link Larkin Stand Up
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The person tasked with turning the film into a stage musical was Jack O'Brien. Hairspray is set in Baltimore in 1962, when America was at a huge social and racial crossroads. John F. Kennedy was in the White House and it was, as Jack O'Brien says in an interview with The Daily Mail:

America's last gasp of innocence before Kennedy was assassinated.

The plot is all about a little girl who wants to dance on a TV show - but of course she's not really a "little girl". Tracy Turnblad is a very big girl. And it is her size that makes her empathetic to others on the "fringe" of society, including the black community.

I must admit when I saw the film I was slightly shocked to start with - because my girls, who were 11 and 9 at the time we saw the film, knew nothing about racial segregation and I had some very quick, whispered explaining to do, so they would understand what was happening.

However, although the story line needing no editing when the Stage Musical was written, O'Brien was experienced enough to know (he converted The Full Monty into a stage show) that film and theatre are two very different mediums and that just turning the story into a film with music would be a recipe for disaster.

Not only did Jack O'Brien do a brilliant job of writing a smash hit musical but he also took part in discussions to Direct the new movie (released in 2007). Unfortunately there were problems with the scheduling and so Adam Shankman directed instead.

That's enough about the movies - what about the Show?

Hairspray has to be one of the most energetic musicals I have ever seen! And I have seen a few (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, The Lion King, Billy Elliot, Phantom of the Opera, Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar).

I found myself thinking how on earth such a "chunky" girl as Leanne Jones, playing Tracy Turnblad, could possibly have the stamina to perform non-stop, not just for two and a half hours on stage but nearly EVERY day. She was absolutely amazing. But most of all she was so believable as a girl who has a fantastic sense of right and wrong and the courage of her convictions.

Right from the moment the band struck up, I was captivated.

The Cast

Michael Ball - Edna Turnblad

Nigel Planer - Wilbur Turnblad

Leanne Jones - Tracy Turnblad

Ben James-Ellis - Link Larkin

Verity Rushworth - Penny Pingleton

Adrian Hansel - Seeweed J Stubbs

Paul Manuel - Corny Collins

Sandra Marvin - Motormouth Maybelle

Zoe Rainey - Amber Von Tussle

Liz Robertson - Velma Von Tussle

A full cast list and more info about the actors can be found on the offical Hairspray website

UK theatre go-ers could be forgiven for assuming that Michale Ball is actually playing the part of a Pantomime Dame as he throws himself into the role of Tracy's mother, Edna Turnblad. However, Ball's performance is so convincing that during the first few shows, people were complaining during the interval that Ball had not made an appearance!

The Daily Telegraph reported that Ball takes 40 minutes to apply his own make-up before he slips into a fat suit complete with "falsies" that weight 2lbs each. He also waxes his eyebrows and shaves his chest once a week.


Photo reproduced under a Creative Commons License granted by Aunt Agatha

There was a great scene in the show, that I saw, where Edna and Wilbur sing a duet "You're timeless to me".

The fat suit made it easy for the the men to get "up close and personal" with each other but towards the end of the number when they exchange some repartee, it became obvious that Michael Ball was ad-libbing because Nigel Planer started to laugh, which in turn made Michael Ball laugh.

It was great to see both actors literally having a ball on stage!

Photo used with permission

Although he only played the role for two years, in the UK Nigel Planer is probably best remembered for his hilarious portrayal of a spaced out hippie in the BBC Sitcom The Young Ones.

However, since the 80s, he has appeared in many films and TV programmes as well in West End Musicals including Chicago, Wicked, We Will Rock You and Evita.

The role of Wilbur Turnblad was originally played by Mel Smith and Planer took over the part from Ian Talbot in February 2009.

Photo used with permission

Planer's Wilbur is a very warm, gentle, slightly eccentric and happy character, who obviously prefers his women big and blonde.

Of course that makes Edna extremely beautiful in his eyes, which I could see twinkling even from Row L in the Royal Circle!

The storyline makes a lot of the "nicest kids in town" but Planer delivers the "nicest Dad and husband in town", with ease.






Photo used with permission

. . . . the next minute a West End star!

Director Jack O'Brien was in the UK looking for his leading lady and despaired of finding anyone British to play the role of Tracy Turnblad. He was beginning to think they may have to bring an American over to play the part - something they did NOT want to do - when Leanne auditioned.

Apparently Leanne's rendition of "Good morning Baltimore" moved O'Brien to tears. O'Brien said:

I was getting to the point when I began thinking, 'It's obviously not going to happen'.

We finally saw Leanne and I said it would be irresponsible of us not to cast that girl - she's a star.

Source: Independent

Photo of Leanne Jones at the Premier of Hairspray London reproduced and used by kind permission of Sean James Cameron of What's on in theatre.com

Leanne Jones' rise to fame, echos that of her alter-ego Tracy Turnblad. For me it was great to see someone who is not "stick-thin" grabbing the spotlight and doing all the things we traditionally see slimmer girls doing in films and on the stage.

Leanne Jones' Tracy Turnblad had just the right balance of energy and enthusiasm, without going over the top. It was an outstanding and thoroughly believable performance.






Photo used with permission

Ben James-Ellis first came to the attention of the British public during the TV Reality show Any Dream Will Do, which documented Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's search for a new Joseph.

As one of the youngest competitors Ben gathered a huge following amongst teenage girls (and younger) and made it through to the semi-final. You can see the utter disappointment on his face when he was eliminated in the video below.

However, it was not long before he was signed up to play the role of Link Larkin in Hairspray.

Photo of Ben James-Ellis at the Premier of Hairspray London reproduced and used by kind permission of Sean James Cameron of What's on in theatre.com

Ben's performance as Link was much more energetic and polished than anything he ever did on Any Dream Will Do. It was clear from the show I saw that he gives his all - and more - when on stage.

I could not help thinking that Sparky and Lizzie would have been very "taken" with Ben's performance......

There was also a great chemistry between Ben and Leanne Jones, which showed through in every scene they did together.




Photo used with permission