Hairspray.
Let’s cut to the chase. Jon English in a dress – who’d have thought? The macho Pirate King now in drag as Edna Turnblad, the mother of a teenage tearaway desperate to break into television in 1962.
From Baltimore to Parramatta he was a sight to behold. For starters he has impressive legs, although high heels was a bridge too far. Well done for resisting tattoos over the years on those slender arms on display. Teams of seamstresses and wig stylists would have needed weeks to create his explosive frocks and curls.
And the performance? While it was more Pantomime Dame than John Travolta, it still ranged from entertaining, to side-splittingly funny, all with very clear diction.
His duet with the exceptionally talented Wayne Scott Kermond as Wilbur Turnbald was worth bottling. And thank you for coming close to kissing, but stopping just short.
Yes there were others on stage - a very large and impressive cast. The dancing was exceptional. The choreography by Camilla Jakimowicz was always crisp.
Well done to Director Neil Gooding for finding a talented local teenager to play the lead Tracy Turnblad. Jessica Rookeward was just 15 when she scored the role. She never missed a beat, and was never outclassed by an experienced community theatre ensemble.
On the white team Michele Lansdown was eminently dislikeable as TV stage mother from hell Velma Von Tussle, aided by her cheesy and cat-like daughter Alyssa Wilkins, whilst Kyle Sapsford as Corny Collins and Christopher Glynn as Link Larkin looked and moved to their parts well.
However thestand-out new talent was in the Afro-American cast. Atunaisa Lasalosi as the cool cat Seaweed J Stubbs had charisma and stage style to swoon over.
Then everyone was upstaged by 12-year-old Ayanda Dladla as Little Inez, in a big and bold performance to make everyone smile.
This production, with a well drilled orchestra and colourful set, had plenty to offer, even for those who have seen Hairspray a number of times before.
David Spicer
Images (from top): Jon English as Edna Turnblad and Wayne Scott Kermond as Wilbur Turnblad; Michele Lansdown as Velma Von Tussle and Corny Collins girls with Alyssa Wilkins as Amber Von Tussle. Perfect Images Photography.
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