Possum Point Players' HAIRSPRAY Begins Tomorrow

Possum Point Players "...Can't Stop the Beat" when they perform "Hairspray" Oct. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11. And, nobody wants to as they sing "Good Morning, Baltimore" and "Welcome to the '60s!" in the rollicking, family-friendly musical. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.

The winner of eight TONY awards, including Best Musical, the light-hearted show also puts to music a meaningful message of acceptance and tolerance. Possum Hall is located at 441 Old Laurel Rd. Georgetown. Tickets are $23, adults, and $22 for students and seniors; they may be purchased at www.possumpointplayers.org or at the ticketline, 856-4560.

Tickets are selling fast with some shows approaching sell-out. "Don't wait and be disappointed," said Director Michael Murnin. "If you have a date that you want, purchase now before you lose the opportunity to see this large and energetic cast of all ages. We have talented, seasoned performers whom you will recognize and brand new faces that you will want to see again." He said the musical that is based on the original John Waters film is timeless in musicality and perceptive humor and delivers a reminder of needed changes in attitudes even today.

Plus-size teenager, Tracy Turnblad, portrayed by Lorraine Steinhoff, is ever optimistic as she sets out to strut her stuff on the Corny Collins show. She is determined to bring people of color right along with her and break the white is right and thin is in atmosphere of the show. A dynamic dance session on the "colored" side of town sets the tone as Motormouth Maybelle, Dulcena Kemmerlin, spins the records and Tracy's friend Seaweed, J.D. Rodgers, leads the kids in stepping to an all new beat.

Alex Ferree as teen heartthrob Link Larkin and Ally Ibach as Tracy's ditzy best friend Penny, find that Motormouth's music sets them moving right along with the crowd. The only thing to sound a sour note is the arrival of the self-appointed snobby mother-daughter doyennes of high hair and low morals, Velma and Amber Von Tussle. Amber, Abby Thornberg, has few lofty goals in life: to be Miss Teen Hairspray and to lead Link by the nose.

Donna de Kuyper goes blonde and blatant as Velma, who schemes to help her daughter succeed and discloses her own secret and lascivious past when she gained the crown as Miss Maryland Crabs. Following the eye- and mind-opening day of dance with Seaweed and Motormouth, Tracy organizes a crowd of civil rights protesters to move with the music as the Corny Collins Show kicks off Mother/Daughter Day. As the show's staid council members and moms protest the protesters, the hubbub, chants and posters bring out local law enforcement and women of all color, sizes and cash accounts are escorted to the Big Doll House.

Even Edna, Tracy's mom, is rounded up and forced to take up residence in the Graybar Hotel. In an industrial strength-blown wig and the best couture Mr. Pinky's offers, Jerry Birl as Edna is big, blond(ish), beautiful and, well, divine.

Wilbur Turnblad, played by John Zinzi, rolls with the action and could not be happier or prouder of the weighty women in his family. He doesn't hesitate to put his business at risk to bail them out of jail and he has an invention in the works that will blow the lid off of any competition that Tracy has for Miss Teen Hairspray.

As Motormouth Maybelle says, "The Turnblad gang are real good folks. They have the heart. They get the jokes."

It's as sure as the hair on cast members' heads, hopes can never be too high or spirits too bouffant. Even in Baltimore, fairy tales can come true and the girl in the wide angle lens can be the one who is in focus in the mind's eye of the prince.

Possum Point Players is supported, in part, by grants from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.