Ok ok… I can hear the bells.
She's a hair hopper, that's what she is...
So let me start this story with a story. I have a deep connection to Hairspray. The movie. The first one. It started when I was ten years old… at a sleep over (get your minds out of the gutter, folks). My best friend rented the movie, and by the time my parents picked me up the next morning, I knew it by heart–probably because we watched it at least 4 times in a row before passing out.
That movie, the John Waters one, introduced me to a crazy-fantastic world of drag queens and wackjobs, and also began my pre-homo crush on Ricki Lake. (Ooh, remind me to tell you about how the Ricki Lake Show sort of forced me out of the closet when I was fifteen. A story for another day…)
As I grew into a sullen teenager, bent on rebellion, John Waters movies became the banner I waved–the test I gave my peers to gauge their coolness–an “are you freaky enough to hang with me” clause for all of my teenage relationships. So you can only imagine how I felt when I first heard about the Disney-fied musical version of Hairspray. I was more than dubious, I was ticked off! I actually refused to see it, to be honest with you. Even with John Waters’ seal of approval, and the fact that it was a musical (I’m a little militant for musicals, OK?), I just couldn’t do it.
It was my lady, my partner, my babymomma, Mrs. G, who first popped my (New) Hairspray cherry, shortly after we met. When I told her I hadn’t seen it, she almost slapped me in the face. No lie. (We’re both a little militant for musicals, it seems.) Needless to say, I loved it. I thought it complemented the first movie perfectly.
So now we’re here, in the present day. I got an invitation from the Broadway Rose Theatre to see their production of Hairspray. Now, I’ve never seen a Broadway Rose production, and the thought of driving out to the suburbs to see theater just seems… odd. I also wondered how a small theater could do justice to this powerhouse of a musical. But a ticket to a musical is a ticket to a musical, so unless I am dying (or dead), I will never miss an opportunity to see a musical.
And let me tell ya… I was blown away.
Blythe Woodland as Tracy Turnblad, and the company of Hairspray at Broadway Rose. Photo by Chris Ryan.
As Mrs. G (who knows much more about theater than I do) said, “They spent their money in the right places.” The talent of the cast was remarkable. They had a live pit orchestra, directed by the Rick Lewis (who has been the music director for some of my favorite productions at Portland Center Stage). And it was just a powerhouse production. I was so into it, I was kinda bummed when intermission hit.
A few notes I jotted down:
- The average age of the audience seemed to be roughly 65. I would guess that most of the people around me were at least 10 years older than that, but it actually was more fun to watch the show with a bunch of people who understood the Debbie Reynolds jokes.
- Ben Waterhouse’s review in The Willamette Week said that Blythe Woodland, who played Tracy Turnblad, was “too svelte to call herself a ‘fat girl.’” I just love that I have lived to see the day where a reviewer calls any actress “too svelte.” (And for the record, I thought she was a fabulous Tracy and have no complaints.)
- The chemistry between Edna & Wilbur Turnblad (played by Dan Murphy and Ron Daum, respectively) was surprisingly electric (as it should be). “(You’re) Timeless to Me,” most likely intended to be a number sung while the scenery changes, was one of my favorite numbers of the night.
- Lacretta Nicole, who plays Motormouth Mabelle, absolutely stole the show every single time she opened her mouth.
- Each of the “Council Members” were spectacular. I mean, really… this is no community theater production here, folks. Led by Alina Ziak, who plays Amber Von Tussle, it was hard to not get completely wrapped up in the whole bubblegum cheesiness that is the “Nicest Kids in Town” number. I bounced most of my way through the first act.
I immediately went home and “Liked” Broadway Rose on Facebook, only to find that the “Link Larkin” billboard outside of Tigard High School had been stolen. Those septugenarians sure can be fiesty.
Hairspray runs through July 24 at the Deb Fennell Auditorium at Tigard High School (yes, really). Ticket prices run from $20-35, and you get get all of the information you need about this production at broadwayrose.org.
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I agree that this is not what one expects to see at a small local theatre!! I saw a touring company in San Francisco years ago and this surpasses that production in every way. I was blown away by the depth in talent…not a weak link anywhere. Blythe Woodland, a real triple threat, was the perfect size for Tracy. Sadly, girls her size are taunted every day in high schools around the country. Lacretta’s performance had everyone around me in tears, she is incredible indeed! This production of Hairspray is musical theatre at it’s best!!!! Don’t miss it!!