For those who don’t know, Hairspray is a musical set in the ’60s, where rock and roll is underground and social change is on its way. As the official tour website states:
In Hairspray, it’s 1962, the ’50s are out and change is in the air. Baltimore’s Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion – to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance programme, ‘The Corny Collins Show’ and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the programme’s reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her ‘do? Only in Hairspray! Welcome to the ’60s!
Running from Tuesday 4th – Saturday 15th June, Hairspray was a whirlwhind of music, fun and all-round family entertainment at The Grand Opera House in Belfast, and for fans of musicals and good times in general, it was a definite must-see!
With a cast of stars such as, Waterloo Road’s Mark Benton playing Edna Turnblad, Eastender’s Lucy Benjamin playing Velma Von Tussle and X Factor’s Marcus Collins playing Seaweed J Stubbs, it was sure to be an unmissable show.
So last Wedneday 12th June we headed down to the GOH to see what all the fuss was about. For this performance Nikki Pocklington played leading lady Tracy Turnblad, and really gave it her all, but the real star of the show was Mark Benton playing Tracy’s mum Edna. Traditionally Edna is played by a man (in the recent film John Travolta nailed the role), but I was unsure how Mark would deliver. But deliver he did!
Hairspray is definitely a show to see over and over again!
