BWW Reviews: SRO/CATCO's HAIRSPRAY Light, Fun and Not Over-Processed

SRO/ CATCO delivered a fun and entertaining performance of the Tony-Award winning 60's-style musical, "Hairspray", playing its second of three weekends at the Columbus Performing Arts Center. The story of big-hearted, plus-sized teenager, Tracy Turnblad (Logan Eva Rathmann), who dreams of dancing on the local TV dance show, is directed by CATCO's Joe Bishara, with Musical Direction by Matt Clemens, and Choreography by Liz Wheeler. Rathmann is a noticeably thinner and softer version of her motion-picture counterpart, Nikki Blonsky, but brings a delightfully genuine kindness, as well as some nice vocals, to the lead role of Tracy. Her opening number, "Good Morning Baltimore" was a perfect blend of campy, light-hearted humor, and wide-eyed, innocent enthusiasm that epitomized the overall tone of the show. There were several points in the show where the lead singers would have benefitted from body mics, and this was one of those, as Rathmann was often drowned out by some less-skilled, but louder back-up vocal parts, however Rathmann's Tracy brings a big stage-presence and solidly carries the show. Tracy is joined in her love of dance by best-friend, Penny Pingleton (Alexa Joy Rybinski) and the two of them vow to get Tracy on "The Corny Collins Show" as a featured dancer. Rybinski is fabulously quirky and energetic, and a blast to watch on stage. The two are met with opposition from the arrogant and wealthy mother-daughter duo of Velma (Linda Kinnison Roth) and Amber (Nikki Nathan) Von Tussle who are reigning producer and diva dance queen of "The Corny Collins Show", and control its racially segregated production, allowing black kids to dance on the show only once a month. Kinnison-Roth is equal parts manic and sadistic, with nice vocals, but not over-the -top enough to be funny, and as such, come across as predictable and one-dimensional. Nikki Nathan, as her daughter, Amber Von Tussle, has some nice moments- "Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now", is a fun number- but neither of their characters really ever emerges as true adversaries. While both are talented, neither character embraces their "win-at-all-cost" persona, and consequently become minor annoyances, rather than the true nemesis needed to make the show work. Tracy's parents, Edna (Frank A. Barnhart) and Wilbur (Don Knoblauch) Turnblad are delightfully wacky, and Barnhart, especially does a masterful job of creating an understated, and sensitive maternal figure, (especially well-crafted as the role is traditionally done in drag) and also a commanding stage presence vocally. Tracy's love interest, teen dance heartthrob, Link Larkin (Cody Michael Shope) is "aw, shucks"-cheesy, but lightens the Von Tussle blandness, and Shope does a great job on smoldering vocals, making his character more likeable than lame. The Ensemble contains some super-talented dancers, and benefits from simple, 60's stylized choreography that is energetic, fun, and well-synchronized. Anthony Dunning as Penny's black boyfriend, and promising dancer, Seaweed Stubbs, and his mother, Motor Mouth Maybelle (Wilma Hutton) are also both very talented, and Hutton, particularly delivers a soulful, "I Know Where I've Been" to rousing audience response. Proving that there are no small actors, only small parts, CJ Chapman (IQ/Pinky) and LaRon Lee Hudson (Duane) upstage everyone else in their scenes, and create very funny moments each time they step on stage. The final number of the evening, "You Can't Stop the Beat", is the best number of the show, and is a huge crowd-pleaser for its beautiful costumes (by Designer Lia Langford), terrific vocals, and energetic dance routine that had everyone clapping along. While the CATCO/SRO collaboration lacked the depth and intensity that CATCO has become known for, "Hairspray" is a fun, family-friendly production that will have you grooving to the 60's and thoroughly entertained. It was especially nice to see several of the up-and-coming CATCO is Kids performers holding their own against several of the more seasoned regulars in this production, and a delightful show in its own right.

Additional show times for "Hairspray" include: Friday, March 8th at 8pm, Saturday, March 9th at 8pm, and Sunday, March 10th at 2pm at 549 Franklin Ave. Columbus, 43220. Tickets can be purchased by going to the website at www.srotheatre.org.

PHOTO CREDIT: SRO/CATCO

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