Review: Hairspray
HAIRSPRAY’S TEENAGE ENERGY
CATCHES ON WITH THE AUDIENCE
If you pop into the women’s or men’s room of the Helsinki City Theatre before the start of the Hairspray musical, the message of the musical is clear at the latest. The spray bottles placed next to the washbasins tell it: It’s all about hair and varnish.
In the musical comedy directed by Georg Malvius, teenage girls have higher hairstyles than each other. The hairspray symbolizes the deep-rooted appearance and role models that the musical criticizes. The main character is a 16-year-old girl named Tracy, who would like to be part of the Corny Collins dance show on TV. However, Tracy’s stumbling block threatens to be two things: she is too fat and she has too liberal ideas about black rights in the United States in the 60s.
The message of Hairspray is built on Tracy’s heroic story; How a charismatic girl overcomes the pressure to look good and at the same time makes the world a little better. At least enough for blacks and whites to dance together on TV. Katja Aakkula empathizes with her role as Tracy quite convincingly.
Even though the text written by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan touches on important issues, the story leaves a bit of a simple and superficial aftertaste. On the other hand, the musical is relaxing as it is, decent entertainment. In addition, good music and brilliant dance performances ensure that the two and a half hours of the performance fly by.
The role of Tracy’s mother
entrusted to men
The music of Hairspray is by the world-famous musical and film composer Marc Shaiman, and no wonder. Her Beatles-style songs resonate with the listener and exude just the right amount of 60s vibes. The singers of the musical, as well as the orchestra tuned to the upper corner behind the stage, do a good job.
Above all, however, the speed and energy stem from dance. The tempo is fast, but you can’t see the breathlessness on stage. Hanna-Liina Vosa, who plays Tracy’s best friend Penny Pingleton, stands out especially with her brilliant stage expression and energy.
The most amusing and at the same time lovable character is Tracy’s mother Edna, whose role is alternated between Tuomas Uusitalo and Mikko Kivinen. When Uusitalo, who has stuffed plush pillows under his dress, and Tracy’s father (Pertti Koivula) stand side by side, the viewer is left in no doubt as to who decides who decides the place in the closet in this relationship. Edna’s femininely hoarse voice crowns the comedy.