Opera Glasses, Love, Racism, and Hairspray: A Review
Hairspray the musical is set in Baltimore, Maryland the year is 1962. Our hero in the musical is is a young overweight girl named Tracy. Tracy has always dreamed of becoming a big star, if and when you attend this musical, make sure you have a front row seat, if you don’t you will want to be sure to bring your opera glasses, so as not to miss a moment of this fast-paced play.
As Tracy is watching television one day, she hears that a popular show is going to sponsor a dance contest. Tracy knows that is is her long dreamed of shot at fame. When her overweight mother finds out about her plans, she discourages the idea for two reasons, one is that she worries that people will make fun of her sweet but overweight daughter, and the other is that she thinks the show plays racist music.
Finally Tracy makes it to the big dance audition, thanks to the permission of her father, Wilbur. As she is auditioning she meets a popular boy named Link Larkin. At this point you will want to make sure you use your opera glasses, as you will want to catch the expression on Tracy’s face, you will see her face light up, maybe in the same way yours did in high school. Our hero begins to daydream that she and Link will end up together. At this point in the musical, she sings a wonderful song about her dream. But as you knew would happen, her dream is shattered when she finds that she did not make the cut on the show, for the same reason that her mother suspected, her weight.
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 the play continues, Tracy and others are invited to the record show that Seaweed’s mother owns, A party is planned for all that attend. All during this time, Tracy becomes close friends with Seaweed, and is enraged to find out that blacks are only allowed to attend the Corny Collins T.V. Show once a month on “Negro Day” Tracy begins to fight for blacks rights. To find out how Hairspray ends, you will have to attend, but it will be a wonderful experience for all who go.
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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