You Can’t Stop the Beat!

Hairspray – Broadway in Chicago

“The Nicest Kids in Town” are teasing their hair, singing and dancing up a storm and striking a blow for equal rights in the  latest production from Broadway in Chicago. It’s a bang-up, non-stop, rock ’n rolling Tony Award-winning musical that makes audiences want to get up and dance in the aisles. This National Tour is masterfully directed by Matt Lenz with almost nonstop, high-octane choreography, originally by the enormously talented Jerry Mitchell, and recreated here by Michele Lynch. This non-Equity production thoroughly entertains, while capturing all the spirit and social relevance of Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan’s script, which was adapted from the campy1988 John Waters film.

Set in 1962 Baltimore, Tracy Turnblad, a sweetly sincere, pleasantly plump high school teenager. She’s the only daughter of blue collar parents and, as we soon discover, an optimistic, socially conscious outcast among her more svelte, affluent Teen Beat-influenced peers. After being treated unfairly while auditioning for the local American Bandstand-like TV show, Tracy begins a fight for equality and racial integration. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman’s absolutely infectious score has never sounded better, as played by musical conductor Patrick Hoagland’s talented nine-member orchestra, and as sung and danced by this brilliantly gifted cast and hard-working ensemble. 

The show is led by a kewpie doll, Broadway belter and ball-of-fire dancing machine named Niki Metcalf, as Tracy. As her plus-sized, agoraphobic mother, Edna, Andrew Levitt, known to his many fans as drag star Nina West, and who won the title of Miss Congeniality on “RuPaul’s  Drag Race,” is spectacularly funny and with a gorgeous singing voice. Ms. Metcalf is a recent college graduate, but she understands how to employ all her assets, from a dynamite voice to her light-up-the-room smile, to make this Tracy Turnblad someone truly special. From her rousing, “Good Morning, Baltimore,” which opens the show and sets the over-the-top tone for the entire production, to her heartfelt fantasy number, “I Can Hear the Bells,” inventively choreographed and staged especially for this production, Niki leaves no doubt that she owns this show. Mr. Levitt, whose theatre credits reflect a wide range of stage experience, wisely resists the urge to make Edna just a drag queen caricature. Instead Levitt imbues his character with honesty and dignity, creating a character who’s truly a loving mother and devoted wife, a woman who’s battling her own insecurities. Matt Lenz certainly has the beginnings of a winning team in these two appealing actors, and they’re supported by an unbelievably accomplished ensemble of additional triple threats.

The “Big, Blonde & Beautiful” Ms. Gabriyel Harris turns into a red hot mama as Motormouth Maybelle, stopping the show cold with her soulful rendition of the musical’s 11th hour anthem to equality, “I Know Where I’ve Been.” Stepping into the role of her spirited son Seaweed J. Stubbs, Brandon G. Stalling electrifies the stage with his double-jointed dancing and with songs like “Run and Tell That.” And little Kalea Leverette burns up every scene she’s in as his baby sister, Little Inez.

The boyishly handsome and very charming Will Savarese offers a star-turning performance as hunky heartthrob and singing/dancing sensation, Link Larkin, who’s the object of Tracy’s adoring affection. His sultry “It Takes Two,” is velvet smooth and filled with hilarious double entendres. Effervescent and delightfully captivating, Emery Henderson shines sweetly as a perfectly priceless Penny Pingleton, Tracy’s naive, best friend. The dynamic duo of Addison Garner and Kaelee Albritton are as funny as they are villainous, playing TV producer (and former Miss Baltimore Crabs) Velma Von Tussle and her spoiled, self-entitled Barbie Doll daughter, Amber. Together they deliciously chew up the scenery, while the handsome, slick and suave Billy Dawson absolutely rules the stage as singing TV host, Corny Collins. In the role of Tracy’s father, Wilbur, the owner of the Hardy-Har-Har novelty shop, Christopher Swan pulls out all the stops. He brings old-fashioned, sentimental Vaudevillian comedy and pizzazz to his scenes with Edna and Tracy while, together with Mr. Levitt, they make “You’re Timeless to Me” a sweet, adult romantic hit.
The production is colorfully enhanced by an array of terrific period costumes and outlandish wigs by William Ivey Long, Paul Huntley and Richard Mawbey. A phenomenal mobile scenic design by David Rockwell is made even more glorious by Paul Miller’s colorful lighting, inspired by the Broadway design created by Kenneth Posner. Video Designer Patrick W. Lord has created a some gorgeous moving projections that pop in a blazing kaleidoscope of chromaticity.   

This polished, energetic, highly professional production is a wonderful distraction to chase away the Winter Blues, while paying homage to February’s Black History Month. It’s a real “Welcome to the 60’s” that promotes a timely message about the need for racial harmony while striking a blow against bullying. This musical also offers a positive message about simply being yourself and owning the talents you possess.

The whole evening overflows with broad comedy, heartbreaking optimism and a lot of can’t-sit-still, toe-tapping music. Act I opens with this talented company bidding a happy “Good Morning Baltimore.” Act II begins with a bevy of babes-behind-bars tapping away in “The Big Dollhouse,” and the show concludes with the infectious, high-octane “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” that sends the audience up the aisles and out of the theatre dancing and singing. Amid the bitter cold temperatures and piles of snow outside, this hot production is a musical gift to Chicago audiences reminding us of how much fun it can be, even masked and vaccinated, to return to the theatre once again.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented February 1-13 by Broadway in Chicago at the CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St, Chicago.

Tickets are available at all BIC box offices, at all Ticketmaster retail locations, by calling the Broadway in Chicago Ticket Line at 800-775-2000 or by going to www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Further information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.