Review: Hairspray *****
Set in Baltimore in the 1960s it tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and a passion for dancing as she sets out to follow her dreams, inspire her larger than life mother and win the boy
she loves.
Along the way she wins a spot on a local TV dance programme, is transformed to a teen celebrity, beats the evil Amber and is crowned Miss Hairspray as well as been successful in integrating the black community into
TV dance.
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Hide AdHairspray is a high energy show with an even higher energy cast who sing and dance their way effortlessly through brilliantly choreographed routines with precision and panache.
As Edna, Tracy's larger than life mother, Brian Conley makes the transformation from a shy housewife afraid to leave the house to an ebullient supersize femme fatale who "likes the way she is" without losing any of the motherly warmth of the character.
His comedy timing and facial expressions say it all, especially in the scenes with Nigel Planer, Edna's long suffering husband. Together they are "pure gold".
But the night belonged to North Yorkshire-born Laurie Scarth who as Tracy Turnblad convinced the audience that you don't have to be super skinny to be superstar.
Leeds Grand Theatre
To July 3.