Fun-Filled Production of HAIRSPRAY Opens TUTS Season

'You can't stop the beat', the laughs, nor the energy of Theatre Under the Stars' (TUTS) production of Hairspray now playing at the Houston Hobby Center.  With one punch line after another, Hairspray is a show about big dreams, big hair and not being afraid to be yourself.

Hairspray's unconventional ingénue, Tracy Turnblad (Katrina Rose Dideriksen), dreams of dancing on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on Baltimore's real-life Buddy Deane Show.  As an eternal optimist, Tracy knows she'll achieve her dreams with no consideration to her mother's concern she does not look the part of the show's small-waist dancers.  But Tracy's big personality and dance moves eventually prevail.  Incapable of understanding why she cannot dance on TV with her African American friends, Tracy then uses her over-night celebrity to champion the TV show's integration.

Despite the deep messages at the show's foundation, Hairspray is a wildly successful comedy with Paul Vogt and Bob Walton leading the way as Tracy's parents, Edna and Wilbur respectively.  Vogt (MADtv), who previously played Edna on Broadway, shines in the classic drag-diva role especially with the few choice lines he delivers in a deep male voice.

But the true magic is when Vogt and Walton (Broadway: 42^nd Street, Once Upon A Mattress, Show Boat) pair for the duet "Timeless to Me" that nearly steals the entire show.  Throughout the number Vogt and Walton had the roaring audience at their fingertips and their comedic dialogue was so fresh it had to have been ad-libbed as they satisfied the audience's desire for more.

As Tracy, Dideriksen delivers a delightful performance with phenomenal non-stop energy.  She is a comedic treat as she lushes over her crush, and Corny Collins Show star, Link, played by Austin Miller. 

Miller's effortless vocals are a dream especially during "It Takes Two." However in the same number his inadequate pretend guitar playing becomes an unnecessary distraction.  I wished he would have been allowed to leave the prop backstage and let his dancing and singing shine.

Dideriksen and Miller played opposite each other in the same roles for the Hairspray national tour and in Las Vegas.  Miller, best known for being a finalist on the televised competition Grease: You're The One That I Want! graduated from TUTS' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) and has been previously seen in the TUTS productions of 42nd Street and Cats.  Also a HSMT alum, Houston native Carly Vernon (National Tour of Seussical) adorably plays Tracy's spunky best friend Penny Pingleton.

Accolade is also deserved by Gaelen Gilliland (Broadway Original Casts of 9 To 5 and Legally Blonde) who plays Velma Von Tussle, Corny Collins Show producer and mother of the show's female star, Amber Von Tussle (Gretchen Bieber, the final Brenda in the Broadway production of Hairspray).   Gilliland has a strong vocal presence and delivers as the quintessential show-mother who will do anything to get her daughter to the top.

The smoothest moves in the production belong to Arbender Robinson (Broadway: Hairspray, Ragtime, Hair, The Little Mermaid) who glides through the complex 60's chorography as Seaweed, Tracy's dance tutor.

Jerry Mitchell's inspired choreography, reproduced by Rusty Mowery, rises to the challenge of creating unique 1960's inspired dance moves for all of the show's musical numbers.  Each song has unique elements and specific complex footwork that keeps the dancing fresh even though the entire score is the same musical style.  Choreography for "I Can Hear The Bells" is especially clever with the cast manipulating hand bells throughout a dream sequence that begins in delightfully cheesy period poses.

Hairspray is filled with vocal talent but unfortunately the audio mixing made much of it difficult to hear.  The loud orchestra volume was fine when the entire ensemble sang, but it drowned out many solos throughout the show.  Low microphone volume also made several lines inaudible which is frustrating as every line in the show is a joke you want to hear. 

Some of the set pieces are also a tad disappointing but with the large number of different settings to create throughout the show, the more simplistic pieces are forgivable.  My favorite set piece was the stage wagon of Tracy's bed used for the show's opening number.  The ingenious design allows the audience to feel as if we're on the ceiling of Tracy's bedroom looking down at the teenager in bed.

Hairspray is based on the 1988 film of the same name.  The musical opened on Broadway August 15, 2002 and won eight Tony Awards out of thirteen nominations including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical.  The musical was subsequently adapted back to film in 2007 with a star-studded cast including John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron and introduced Nikki Blonsky.

Hairspray runs at the Hobby Center until October 17.  TUTS regulars will want to note that weekday performances now have an early curtain of 7:30 p.m.  Tickets (starting at $24) are available on-line at www.TUTS.com, by phone at 713-558-TUTS (8887), outside the Houston area at 888-558-3882, or in person at the Theatre Under the Stars Box office, (800 Bagby at Walker, Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat-Sun 11 a.m.-4 p.m.)  An audio described performance is available Sunday, October 17, 2010 at 2 p.m. and open captioning Sunday, October 17, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.   The Hobby Center is wheelchair accessible.  Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more and may be purchased by calling 713-558-8888 or via e-mail at groupsales@tuts.com.