Hairspray: Big is beaut on Broadway

Big, bright and beautiful; the first night audience was left exhausted with a show that could not be faulted.

Upstairs in the Regent Theatre the sound was at times a little shrill and the lyrics lost some of their impact, but that was the only criticism, and apparently this was not the case downstairs.

This show has all the ingredients of pantomime with the story of the pretty, talented Tracy (Danica Manson) who is rejected on a television show because she is plump, but nevertheless manages to win the attention of the up and coming teen idol (read Prince Charming).

Tracy's mother, Edna, is always played by a man - Andrew Hodgson is this pantomime dame.  Her father Wilbur (Ben Jones) is a clown, and their second act song and dance routine You're Timeless To Me was a real delight.

The other highlight was Amy Hunt as Motormouth Maybelle and her Aretha Franklin voice.  The part was made for her and her voice, as was that of Velma von Tussle "Miss Baltimore Crabs" played with suitable evil by Val Andrew, who was nicely paired with Madison Horman as her daughter Amber.

The other actor who caught the attention, for her delightful interpretation of Tracy's best friend, redheaded Penny, was Alexia Clark and her partnership with the black dancer Seaweed (Adam Sowman).

Through the eyes of these two we see the issues of the United States in 1962 and the start of the civil rights movement as Tracy leads the teens into a rebellion against race and size-segregated television.

Integral to this production are the amazing dancers who never missed a step.

Congratulations to Ian Harman and Al Warren for a first-class musical show.

You deserve full houses.