ABC Family is airing its premiere of the 2007 movie “Hairspray” Sunday at 9:30 p.m. But if you really want the “Hairspray” experience, I highly recommend you check it out this weekend at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland.
The Paramount Players are presenting the musical today (March 25th) at 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 26th at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
I have never seen either movie or any performance on stage, so this was my first introduction to the “Hairspray” world. I was impressed at how socially conscious it is, and I had to wonder if the middle school and high school students I was watching it with really got it since it’s something I hope they’ve never had to face in person.
If you have never seen it, “Hairspray,” which is based on the 1988 John Waters movie, tells the story of Tracy Turnblad. She’s an adorable, talented high school student whose dream is to be one of the dancers on the “Corney Collins Show” (Think “American Bandstand.”) and to get heartthrob dancer Link Larkin to fall in love with her. But Tracy’s a tad on the overweight side and doesn’t really get the attention she deserves until she learns a few moves from her black classmate. Her newfound popularity turns not only her life on its ear, but everyone else’s as well—including Link’s.
It’s clear from the show’s first note that the key to a successful performance is to cast a good Tracy and they’ve definitely got a good one here in Portsmouth High School junior Abbie Emmons. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that Emmons and I are Facebook friends that met when we both competed in this year’s “Portsmouth Idol.” But it’s hard to believe I would feel any differently about her performance if I didn’t know her. She has just the right amount of sweetness and perkiness to make you root for Tracy to get the guy and find a way to integrate “Corney Collins.”
But Emmons doesn’t have to carry the show on her own as she has great support from the rest of the cast. Savannah-Lee Mumford was deservedly a crowd favorite as Tracy’s goofy best friend, Penny. And if you know anything about “Hairspray,” you know that the part of Tracy’s mother, Edna, is played by a man—in this case, Michael Niday. Niday was outstanding and lit up every scene in which he appeared. And I loved every solo Susan Taylor (Motormouth Maybelle) sang.
In all honesty, I could say something good about every member of the cast. Director Melanie Sweeney, who also plays Penny’s mother, Prudy, has done an excellent job putting the cast together. Kudos also to Sweeney for her outstanding choreography and Amber Ferguson for her musical direction.
Even the high school students that attended Thursday morning’s special performance left the theater singing the songs because try as you might, “You Can’t Stop the Beat”…
We are so fortunate to be able to see local performances of this caliber in the Tri-State, so I hope theater lovers will take advantage of this opportunity to see a good one in the beautiful Paramount Arts Center.
For ticket information, visit the PAC website.
I saw the performance on Thursday... All the performers were amazing! They couldn't have found a better Tracey! I was floored when I found out she was just a junior in high school. This young lady should be on broadway!
ReplyDeleteHairspray wasn't even worth price of admission. Sure, there were some really great parts and some really great actors, but for the most part the bad parts kind of cancelled out the good ones. Joanna Berner (Velma), Devin Hale (Corny Collins), Michael Niday (Edna), Hannah Lutz (Li'l Inez), and Abbie Emmons (Tracy) were really the only ones worth paying the ten bucks for. But you can't judge a musical solely on a few of the leading or supporting actors, in order to truly be good it has to have a very strong ensemble. The ensemble was decent, Its not fair to say that the ensemble itself was terrible, they just didnt seem to haave the best directing team. The choreography was sloppy, and very elementary. With a dance-heavy show such as this complex choreography is expected. Then there was also the fact that the ensembles' voices did not blend well at all, it sounded like they were straining half the time and no one had enough vocal experience to be able to properly harmonize and blend with a large ensemble.
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget to adress the biggest issue with this production: Katlyn Shaw (Amber Von Tussle) and Savannah-Lee Mumford (Penny Pingleton). Talented performers? Yes, yes they are. Just look at their credentials, working at Broadway workshops with amazing directors, landing leads galore at their high school, and even professional credits. What do these two girls have in common with Hairspray director Melanie Sweeney? Mount Airy, North Carolina. Melanie has worked with Savannah-Lee and Katlyn professionally in North Carolina and even did a touring show with those two girls a couple years ago. You're probably thinking, "What does Mount Airy, North Carolina have to do with anything?" Savannah-Lee and Katlyn are high school students from Mount Airy. Now, why would two high school students want to come to little Ashland, Kentucky just to do some community theatre show? Because they were promised their roles and housing with Melanie during run of rehearsals and show. Why did Melanie feel as if she needed to bring in ringers from North Carolina for a non-professional show? Because there's not enough talent in the area? No, there is plenty of talent in this area, look at the amazing productions that have been put on in the past. It was completely unfair and unnecessary for Mrs. Sweeney to do something as unfair as bring in girls she used to work with in a places that is hours away from here.
This is nothing against Savannah-Lee and Katlyn, they can't help that Mrs. Sweeney is insensitive and unfair when it comes to working with a new company in a new town. But should a director like this really be supported and praised? No, she should be called out on her mistakes and not be able to get away with such things.
As supporters of the arts we should think twice before contributing our money to a community comapany run by someone so unfair and unprofessional as Melanie Sweeney.