Friday, December 25, 2009

Opera Glasses and Hairspray: A Musical Review

By Jeff Bridges

The musical Hairspray is set in June in the year 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland. The main character, Tracy, is an overweight young girl. The young girl dreams of becoming famous. If you do not have front row seats, you will want to bring your opera glasses so as not to miss a heartbeat of this fast-paced musical.

Tracy hears on the television that The Corny Collins Show is having a dance contest and she excitedly wants to enter the contest. Her overweight mother frowns at the idea. (You may have heard actor John Travolta played this part in the movie Hairspray.) Tracy's mother is just trying to protect her dear daughter out of love as she does not want people to make her daughter a joke for being overweight. Plus, her mother thinks the show plays racist music.

With the good grace of her father Wilbur, Tracy finally gets permission to go on to the dance audition. During the audition, she meets with, and falls in love with a boy name Link Larkin. As the author I recommend, preparing for this moment, by making sure that you are using your opera glasses! You will surely want to catch the expression on Tracy's face as you see her fall hopelessly in love with Link. At this point, Tracy begins a beautiful song about love, and her dream of being with Link. Tracy is rudely awakened from her daydream, only to find out that due to her weight, she did not make the cut for the dance competition. Just as her mother suspected would happen from the beginning.

Poor Tracy then returns back to school. Her troubles do not end at school. Tracy is then given a detention once again due to her hair being so big that kids sitting behind her cannot even see the chalk board! Hence, you can tell a reason why the musical is given the name Hairspray.

As Tracy sits in detention feeling sorry for herself she meets a nice black boy named Seaweed, Seaweed is a great dancer, and teaches Tracy some amazing dance moves. A dance party is scheduled for the school, and Tracy decides to attend despite her recent run of very bad luck. This time Tracy's luck is about to change, attending the dance, is the owner of the Corny Collins Show, the show that is to feature the dance contest, as he watches the dancers he notices the moves that Tracy puts on, he falls in love with her dance style, and chooses Tracy to dance on his show. Tracy is ecstatic to find out that at long last she will be on the show! Make sure you are using your opera glasses at this point.

Tracy gets more good news, Link Larkin is to sing a romantic song to her. Another character, Amber, who is the snobby pretty girl is quite upset. At school Amber does some mean things to Tracy which includes whacking her head with a volleyball and knocking Tracy out.

As we continue with the play, Tracy is invited to record shop that Seaweed's mother owns, all during the play, Tracy continues to grow close to Seaweed, and is upset to find out that the show that she is about to go on, only allows black people to attend their shows once a month, on "Negro Day" because of this Tracy finds herself fighting for black rights, and helping her best friend, the ending of Hairspray the musical is sure to please, but you will have to attend to find out.

Hairspray is a delight to attend, and a bigger delight to hear, it is no wonder it made such a run on Broadway, Remember to bring your opera glasses to catch every last expression, and the wonderful costumes. This is truly a performance to cherish.

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