Link Larkin (Nick Pankuch)
Tracy Turnblad is at it again,
shaking her hips and shaking up the good folks of Baltimore as she posits the
audacious concept that blacks and whites should be seen dancing together on the
city’s favorite teen dance television show, The
Corny Collins Show, which showcases “the nicest kids in town” (Not!) Yes,
it’s “Hairspray,” that campy, “corny,” musical that defies you not to tap your
toes or do a little in-seat bugaloo, and it’s currently delighting audiences at
the Summer Theatre of New Canaan under the able direction of Allegra Libonati.
In past years, STONC has staged two
major musicals during its season, so the decision to go with an extended run of
just one show (“Hairspray” plays through Aug. 3) was a bit of a risk. If the
show was a flop they had a dead season on their hands. The risk, however, seems
to have paid off, for although this production of “Hairspray” is not without
its flaws (most of them minor), the sheer exuberance of the cast and the energy
that pulses from STONC’s expanded stage give the show whatever legs it needs to
carry it through until closing. I got the feeling that by the finale a lot of
the audience members had to restrain themselves from jumping to their feet to join
the cast on-stage for just one more chorus of “You Can’t Stop the Beat” – the
show is that infectious.
Based on the John Waters 1988 film
of the same name, “Hairspray,” with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott
Wittman and Shaiman, and a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, tells the
story of one Tracy Turnblad (Rebecca Spigelman), a size-challenged young lady
who dreams of being a regular on The
Corny Collins Show and, just perhaps, winning the heart of the show’s main
heart-throb, Link (Nick Pankuch). Standing in her way is Velma Von Tussle (a
very effective Jodi Stevens) and her daughter, Amber (Caroline Lellouche),
Link’s current main squeeze. Another naysayer is Tracy ’s mom, Edna (traditionally played by a man
– in this case Greg London), who has been defeated by her size and become a
recluse.
Velma Von Tussle
(Jodi Bryce Stevens)
However, Tracy does have a cheering section, albeit a
small one, consisting of her best friend, Penny Pingleton (a vivacious Sharon
Malane) and her dad, Wilbur (Nick Reynolds). When Tracy expands her goals to include
racial integration she gains the support of Motormouth Maybelle (A’lisa Miles),
the host of the once-a-month “Negro Day” on the Corny Collins Show, and the grudging respect of Corny (Andrew J,
Mauney) himself.
Of course, none of this is trenchant
drama, nor is it meant to be. If you seek a serious theatrical discussion of
prejudice stemming from size, race or gender go elsewhere – and besides, who
wants to get serious on a lovely summer’s evening? Instead, settle in beneath
STONC’s new tent and enjoy some fine performances, starting with Spigelman’s Tracy . Sporting some
outrageous hair-dos (compliments of Bobbie Clifton Zlotnik), Spigelman gives Tracy just the right
balance of teen effervescence and dawning social conscience. Whether she’s wishing
Baltimore a good morning, hearing bells or suggesting that it takes two to make
life worthwhile, Spigelman is dead-on, and she has to be, for right behind her,
and at moments almost stealing the show, is Malane as Penny, whose endearing,
gum-chewing cluelessness is delightfully maintained until her transformation (the
caterpillar-to-butterfly moment is always a crowd-pleaser).
Dynamites (Melissa Victor, Tatianna Mott, Darrilyn Castillo)
Equally satisfying are Stevens, who
does a great turn with “Velma’s Revenge,” and London and Reynolds as the senior
Turnblads – their rendition of “You’re Timeless to Me” is a show-stopper, not
least because they have a certain freedom to ad-lib, much to the audience’s
delight. In fact, just about everyone up on the stage delivers. One might
quibble that the performances of Brian Sillman and KeLeen Snowgren (listed in
the program as playing male and female authority figures) might be toned down a
bit – they’re just a bit too campy, even for “Hairspray.” On the technical
side, additional quibbles might extend to some rather loose work with
follow-spots and staging, especially in some of the ensemble numbers, that
could have been framed a bit better, with more perceptive use of dominant and
subordinate stage positions.
Grumbles aside, this production of
“Hairspray” is exactly what summer theatergoers are looking for: a
toe-tappping, ear-pleasing musical with enough eye-candy to require going on a
visual diet for at least a week after seeing the show. The audience the night I
saw the show ranged from children not long out of diapers to senior citizens –
and everyone seemed to have had a good time and, based upon reaction to the
finale, agreed that you simply can’t (and don’t want to) stop the beat.
“Hairspray” runs through Aug. 3 at Waveny Park
in New Canaan . For tickets or more information
call 203-966-4634 or go to www.stonc.org
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