Opera Glasses and Hairspray: A Musical Review
The musical Hairspray is set in June in the year 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland. The main character, Tracy, is an overweight young girl. The young girl dreams of becoming famous. If you do not have front row seats, you will want to bring your opera glasses so as not to miss a heartbeat of this fast-paced musical.
One day, our hero, is watching T.V. And finds out that That the Corny Collins Show is having a huge dance contest, excitedly Tracy tells her mother that she would like to enter the contest. Her mother, who is overweight like Tracy discourages the idea that Tracy has had. In reality, Tracy’s mother, would like nothing more to protect her daughter, as she knows that people will make fun of her for being overweight. Additionally, her mother feels that the show is racist.
Tracy does make it to the audition with permission from her father, Wilbur. While she is auditioning she meets the popular hunk Link Larkin. Get ready to put on your opera glasses as you will want to catch Tracy’s eyes light up just as yours may have back in high school. Tracy daydreams that she and Link Larkin will end up together one day. She sings absolutely beautiful songs about her love sick dream. Tracy is awakened from her sweet dream as she does not make the cut to be on the show due to her weight, just as her mother suspected would happen.
After the audition, Tracy returns to school down trodden, but as luck would have it, her troubles do not end just yet. Tracy is given detention simply due to the fact that her hair is just so big, her big hair causes such a problem, because those that sit behind her in class are not even able to see the chalkboard. For this reason, the musical Hairspray, is named Hairspray.
As Tracy sits in detention feeling sorry for herself she meets a nice black boy named Seaweed, Seaweed is a great dancer, and teaches Tracy some amazing dance moves. A dance party is scheduled for the school, and Tracy decides to attend despite her recent run of very bad luck. This time Tracy’s luck is about to change, attending the dance, is the owner of the Corny Collins Show, the show that is to feature the dance contest, as he watches the dancers he notices the moves that Tracy puts on, he falls in love with her dance style, and chooses Tracy to dance on his show. Tracy is ecstatic to find out that at long last she will be on the show! Make sure you are using your opera glasses at this point.
Tracy again finds herself as the recipient of good news, she finds out that the lovable hunk Link Larkin will be singing a romantic song to her on T.V! Another character on the show is Amber a snobby cruel girl, who also happens to be in love with Link, finds out about Tracy’s fortune, and decides to make Tracy’s life a living hell, full of harassment.
As we continue with the play, Tracy is invited to record shop that Seaweed’s mother owns, all during the play, Tracy continues to grow close to Seaweed, and is upset to find out that the show that she is about to go on, only allows black people to attend their shows once a month, on “Negro Day” because of this Tracy finds herself fighting for black rights, and helping her best friend, the ending of Hairspray the musical is sure to please, but you will have to attend to find out.
Hairspray is a delight to attend, and a bigger delight to hear, it is no wonder it made such a run on Broadway, Remember to bring your opera glasses to catch every last expression, and the wonderful costumes. This is truly a performance to cherish.
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