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Hairspray Resonates on
Several Levels with
Muny Audience
2 Viewpoints on Muny’s Current Show until June 30
By Pat Lindsey
Since its stage debut in 2002, Hairspray has resonated with audiences of all ages, probably due to the universal appeal of its lively, danceable music and the theme of social discrimination with which most people can identify. In the end, the people who have been bullied and discriminated against throughout the show reign victorious.
Tracy Turnblad, played by Muny newcomer Ryann Redmond, is an overweight teenager who wants to be a dancer on a local American Bandstand-type show. She is teased and insulted about her weight. Even her mother (Bryan Batt) tries to discourage her from fulfilling her dreams. But Tracy doesn’t give up. By breaking through some racial barriers, she learns some new dance moves and breaks into show business on her own terms with her new friends.
In spite of the mean-spiritedness of Velma Von Tussle (Heather Ayers) and her daughter, Amber (Taylor Louderman), who are cruel to Tracy, the audience learns to “love yourself inside and out.”
Hairspray’s pulsating song, Welcome to the 60s, defines the musical in both social content of the era and the changing music scene. It’s among several good songs written by Grammy, Emmy, and Tony-winner Marc Shaiman, His songs, with lyrics by Scott Wittman, and the outstanding Muny cast of singers and dancers provides summer fun at the Muny now through June 30.
Other memorable songs include the opening, “Good Morning Baltimore,” sung by Tracy and company, the poignant ,“You Know Where I’ve Been,” sung by Motormouth Maybelle and the kids at her record shop, the sweet “You’re Timeless to Me” sung by Tracy Turnblad’s parents, Edna and Wilbur ,,and the very appropriate concluding number “You Can’t Stop the Beat”
Is Hairspray Better than Grease?
By Bob Lindsey
On a few occasions, my wife, Pat, and I disagree on which is the better musical, Grease or Hairspray. Both are era classics, but I lean more toward Hairspray while she prefers Grease. While both are similar in high intensity song and dance, there are actually many differences.
Grease, which made its debut in the mid-70s, is set in southern California in the 1950s. It’s more laid back, high school cool, rock-oriented and predictable. Hairspray made its stage debut in 2002 and was based on the John Water’s film comedy that was set in Baltimore in 1962. Its pulsating song, Welcome to the 60s, defines the musical in both social content of the era and the changing music scene. It’s among several good songs written by Marc Shaiman, who is a Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner.
Shaiman’s songs, with lyrics by Scott Wittman, and the outstanding Muny cast of singers and dancers led by sparkplug Ryann Redmond as leading lady Tracy Turnblad, provides another evening of summer fun at the Muny. Other memorable songs include the opening, “Good Morning Baltimore,” the poignant “You Know Where I’ve Been,” sung by Motormouth Maybelle and the kids at her record shop, the sweet “You’re Timeless to Me” sung by Tracy Turnblad’s parents, Edna and Wilbur ,and the very appropriate concluding number “You Can’t Stop the Beat”
Hairspray may have represented a changing social era in Baltimore, a city much like St. Louis in 1962, but you might find it in tune with what has been happening in the two cities today. You be the judge of which show you like better. You have until June 30 to catch the spirited Hairspray on the Muny stage (314-361-100 or muny.org for ticket information )
