Broadway in Chicago Presents HAIRSPRAY Review – High Hair and High Dreams

A Place to Belong in HAIRSPRAY

Psychological simplicity defines Hairspray. What keeps the musical from sliding into cartoon territory is its characters’ pursuit of emotional fulfillment. Tracy’s mother Edna, a role played in drag by such outsized personalities as Divine (original film), Harvey Fierstein (on Broadway) and John Travolta (musical version of the movie), is here given irresistible joie de vivre by Andrew Levitt. The visual gag of enormous Edna and her diminutive husband Wilbur (Christopher Swan) can’t hide their bond, one that everyone else onstage seeks in their own lives. 

Tracy, searching for “a place where I belong,” has only to consider her joke shop-owning dad and laundry-washing mom for models of true love. Crashing an audition to replace one of The Corny Collins Show kids, Tracy withstands insults from the patronizing female producer Velma, does some swift dance moves that fail to convince her, and falls instantly in love with the show’s heartthrob Link. Why shouldn’t a hefty girl go for him, even if he’s currently attached to Velma’s svelte daughter Amber? 

Broadway in Chicago’s Tapping Feet and Wish Fulfillment 

Size matters and so does color. Stuck in detention at school, Tracy bonds with some of her fellow detainees – Black kids whose dance skills take her to a new level. Plot complications follow, including Tracy’s best friend Penny falling for tall, handsome and illicitly dark Seaweed; Tracy pushing for integration that captivates Link; and a TV station protest that lands everyone in jail. With plenty of silliness along the way, Hairspray leads everyone to a place where they can comfortably belong. Sure, it’s just wish-fulfillment but the joyful beat and sheer earnestness allowed this viewer to willingly suspend disbelief. 

That hold on reality lasted the show’s entire 2 ½ hour length, as strong as Ultra Clutch, the hairspray brand sponsoring The Corny Collins Show. Those who enjoy setting their own mental do’s high for an evening may find that Hairspray is just the right product.

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CAST:

Andrew Levitt
Niki Metcalf
Toneisha Harris
Billy Dawson
Will Savarese
Emery Henderson
Brandon G. Stalling
Kaelee Albritton
Addison Garner
Kalea Leverette
Christopher Swan
Caroline Daye Attayek
Kelly Barberito
Helene Britany
Jamonte Bruten
Tanner Callicutt
Shante Clark
Ryahn Evers
Micheal Corey Hassel
Kaleb Jenkins
Greg Kalafatas
Gabriel Kearns
Stevie LeWarne, Jr.
Nichelle Lewis
Paris Mone’t Lewis
Brendan Morris
Faith Northcutt
Adam Blake Raque
Nadia Ra’Shaun
Renee Reid
Gabriyel Thomas
George Vickers V
Emmanuelle Zeesman

CREATIVE TEAM:

Marc Shaiman (Music and Arrangements, Lyrics Co-Author)
Scott Wittman (Lyrics Co-Author)
Mark O’Donnell (Book Co-Author)
Thomas Meehan (Book Co-Author)
Matt Lenz (Tour Director)
Jack O’Brien (Broadway Director)
Michele Lynch (Touring Choreography)
Jerry Mitchell (Broadway Choreography)
David Rockwell (Scenic Design)
William Ivey Long (Costume Design)
Paul Miller (Tour Lighting Design)
Kenneth Posner (Broadway Lighting Design)
Shannon Slaton (Sound Design)
Patrick W. Lord (Video Design)
Paul Huntley (Wigs & Hair Design)
Harold Wheeler (Orchestrations)
Lon Hoyt (Music Supervision)
John Mezzio (Musical Coordinator)

WHEN:

Now through February 13

Tuesdays: 7:30 pm
Wednesdays: 2:00 & 7:30 PM
Thursdays: 7:30 PM
Fridays: 7:30 PM
Saturdays: 2:00 & 8:00 PM
Sundays: 2:00 & 7:30 PM 

WHERE:

CIBC Theatre
18 West Monroe St.
Chicago, IL 

TICKETS:

$34.50+

To purchase tickets, visit the Broadway in Chicago website.

Note: Picture This Post reviews are excerpted by Theatre in Chicago.

Photos by Jeremy Daniel