Hairspray at The Bristol Hippodrome review

Posted on: 2018-03-05

Our rating:

It's churlish of me to pick fault in the show. The singing was exemplary as was the dancing and choreography. Hurry and get tickets whilst it's in Bristol.


Hairspray is on now at The Bristol Hippodrome with evening shows at 7.30pm daily until Saturday 10th March and additional matinee performances on Wednesday and Saturday afternoon at 2.30pm. 365Bristol sent along Martyn Hillier to review on opening night. Here's his thoughts!

***GET TICKETS HERE***

Hairspray at The Bristol Hippodrome from 5-10 March 2018

Hairspray at The Bristol Hippodrome opened on Monday 5th March 2018 to a packed house with an eclectic mix of ages.

 

The musical which was originally a film starring Ricki Lake and Debbie Harry in 1988 - and then re-released in 2007 with a host of stars including John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Queen Latifah and Christopher Walken to name a few - is based around the premise of a bigger fuller figured girl who wants to sing and dance on The Corny Collins TV Showa in Baltimore in the early 60s. It follows her varied story and also gives you a few insights into the US of the time.. the racism the music and dance scene and the social tensions therein.

Rebecca Mendoza as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray at The Bristol Hippodrome

Our main character is the tubby Tracy Turnblad who dreamed the dream and followed it through. From high school detention where she met the amazing dancing of seaweed to her auditioning for the Corny Collins TV show where she was laughed at but showed them how good she was. The first half ended darkly as a race riot erupted but after the interval the overwhelming good of the majority shone through. It was hectic full on dancing, singing and choreography... almost breathless at times.

 

The outfits and costumes were colourful and indicative of the era and the vocals were all outstanding in my opinion. I'm no X Factor judge although after reading the programme I see that one of the characters made her breakthrough on the same show.. the character of Motormouth Maybelle played by Brenda Edwards was on the 2005 show and I have to admit she was my personal favourite singer of the night closely followed by Gina Murray who played an overbearing ex beauty queen who had it in for the hero of the show... Tracy Turnblad.

Brenda Edwards as Motormouth Maybelle in the UK Tour of Hairspray

It's churlish of me to pick fault in the show. The singing was exemplary as was the dancing and choreography. The only surprising thing that totally jumped out at me was one half of Hale and Pace (Norman Pace) playing Tracy's dad in a musical. I would thoroughly recommend this show and give it 9.5 outta 10. Near perfect except for a microphone malfunction which was rectified within seconds.

 

Thanks to the Bristol Hippodrome and the staff there, a terrific venue and fantastic service whether being shown to our seats or in the Piano Bar for drinks. Also of course a big congratulations to all involved with the show. Smash Hit Musical it says on the programme, you're not wrong there!

 

Hurry and get tickets whilst it's in Bristol.



Article by:

Martyn Hillier

Normally seen running around a rugby field in a variety of colours and must have the record for appearances for different clubs. Born and bred in Bristol and loves it here!