Review: Hairspray

Mikko Kivinen presents feminine
talents as Edna of Hairspray

Viewers are entertained in the 1960s and with racial issues

Hairspray, which had its European premiere at the Helsinki City Theatre, presents the audience with a story depicting racial segregation and the 1960s in a fun way. The serious subject is dressed up in a comic setting. There is a spectrum of all the emotions in life – especially competition, jealousy, love and jealousy.

The musical comedy, which has won eight Tony Awards, marches a group of young stars onto the stage, who are guaranteed to captivate the audience with their songs and dances. In particular, the characters of Tracy Turnblad (Katja Aakkula/Johanna Heimonen), Amber von Tussle (Katja Sirkiä), Link Larkin (Mikko Leppilampi) and Seaweed Stubbs (Gary Revel Jr) become central to the performance.
The list is strengthened by veterans, of whom Tracy’s mother figure Edna (Mikko Kivinen/Tuomas Uusitalo) becomes an absolute star. You can’t look at the oversized Edna with her tight-fitting floral dresses, irons and buns without laughing.

In Hairspray, the big and fat Tracy realizes her dream by defying the prejudices of the environment: she wants to be a dancer on Corny Collins’ (Petja Lähde) TV show in Baltimore. White and black youth clash for entertainment. Tracy gets the solid support of her mother Edna and her father Wilbur (Pertti Koivula/Pekka Huotari).

The group of black people is led with poetic rhymes by Maybelle Motormouth (Caron Barnes); she makes an incredibly wonderful interpretation of the song I Know Where I’ve Been. Edna and Wilbur’s duet You’re Timeless To Me is also one of the highlights of the performance. Naturally, music is the main element of the performance. More than twenty songs take the audience to very different moods. The compositions are by Marc Shaiman.

Hairspray is based on John Waters’ 1988 film of the same name. Although the story is written according to a fairly familiar formula, it retains its interest thanks to the good characters. The translations fit well into the Finnish psyche; Still, some of the songs will certainly sound better in the original language. It is annoying that the fast lines are drowned out by the speed and partly also by the music.

The costumes are a pleasure to look at and the set design proves its functionality. Special thanks go to the orchestra led by Lasse Hirvi , who performs the musical’s songs in a catchy swinging way. Viewers should note that the casting of the main roles changes in different acts.