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Rating: 5 out of 5 masks

I was going to write this last week, but I still in a state of shock when I found out that Hairspray will close.  Their capacity was nowhere near the 50% mark and I think that it’s a great show that appeals to everyone.

For those not familiar with the movie that the musical is based on or the movie that is based on this (try and wrap your head around that), it’s about an overweight girl, Tracy Turnblad, who tries to get on her favorite American Bandstand-esque show and tries to change the world in the process. 

While I got the joke that the part of Tracy’s mother would be played by a male actor in drag, it did take a little getting used to.  Sometimes it took a little away from the performance, looking at the character and reminding myself that he’s playing a woman.  The only times (and I’ve seen this show a few times with different actors in the role) when it wasn’t distracting was when he performed in the musical numbers.

I liked the colorful set of the musical and how it didn’t look realistic, almost as though it was a contrast to the realistic plot of the show.  It was also a creative way to allow the audience to have fun while sneaking in some education.  The lighting followed suit, filling the stage with what I would describe as neon-pastels to match the set.

What I loved most about the show was the music.  All the songs were memorable when I left the theatre and just thinking about them (well, most of them) put me in a good mood.  Every song gets a round of applause, and while that happens at every musical, this one, in my opinion deserved every minute of it.  My favorite ones were “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now”, “The Big Dollhouse” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat”.  And before you think you can get away with just watching the movie, the first two numbers I just mentioned are not in the movie.

I would recommend this show to everyone who can see it.  It’s bright, fun and easy to sing along to.  It may not be appropriate for people who prefer a more dramatic musical.

Running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes w/intermission