REVIEW:

Hairspray, Mayflower Theatre

JUST like its leading lady, Hairspray is brilliant, bright and bold with big hair and even bigger performances.

Newcomer Rebecca Mendoza makes her professional debut as Tracy Turnblad, alongside more seasoned performers who make this joyful production the perfect tonic.The cast are universally fantastic, but Layton Williams, returning to the role of Seaweed, deserves special mention, his athletic dance moves, flips, turns and pirouettes drawing gasps from a packed first night audience.

Former X Factor winner Brenda Edwards gives the stand out vocal performance, raising the roof as Motormouth Maybelle.

Unlikely lovebirds Norman Pace and Matt Rixon are an absolute delight as the Turnblad parents who teach their larger than life daughter the important lessons in life and love. Tracy’s crusade to p romote racial integration above segregation is all wrapped up in a succession of great tracks and fantastic dancing, the words of Good Morning Baltimore and You Can’t Stop The Beat ringing in the ears long after a deserved standing ovation at the curtain call.

Hairspray’s trick is to carry a powerful message in a spectacular bouncy bouffant of a show. It’s truly uplifting.

Hairspray runs until Saturday. Tickets: 023 8071 1811 or mayflower.org.uk