Theatre Review: Hairspray

                         You Can't Stop the Beat

Broadway San Diego returns triumphantly to live shows with an oldie but very, very goodie: “Hairspray,” the 2002 teenybopper musical based on the 1988 John Waters film.

It’s a rollicking piece about a chubby but fearless ’60s Baltimore high schooler named Tracy Turnblad (Niki Metcalf), who wants to dance on the local “Corny Collins Show.” She’s got the moves and personality, and isn’t about to be stopped when mom Edna (Andrew Levitt) starts reciting the depressing facts of life for overweight TV performers. Dad Wilbur (Christopher Swan) knows his daughter, and is quietly on her side when she announces that she’s going to audition.

But she’ll have even worse trouble in the form of the show’s meanie producer, Velma Van Tussle (Addison Garner), who wants to keep her off the show so that her own daughter Amber (Kaelee Albritton) can lock up that spot.

At the station, Tracy meets dreamboat (and excellent Elvis soundalike) Link Larkin (Will Savarese), which gives her another reason to want to be on the show, and her song “I Can Hear the Bells” is a charming paean to young love.

But Tracy the renegade ends up in detention at school, where she meets Seaweed J. Stubbs (Brandon G. Stalling) and several other African American students, who, it is assumed, are routinely in detention. Here’s another chance for Tracy to make a difference: they’re terrific dancers, and she’ll try to get them on Corny’s show as well (remember, this is 1962) – if she can get them (and herself) out of detention.

There’s another fascinating character here, as well: amply-endowed Motormouth Maybelle (Toneisha Harris), owner of the local record shop, a great character and fine singing actor, whose motto is “The bigger your girth, the more you’re worth.”

Ambition, young love, not-so-young love (wait till you see Tracy’s parents do “You’re Timeless To Me”), and fun and frenetic choreography will keep you amused and maybe even humming along as the story unfolds.

Acting and dancing are fine all around. Metcalf’s Tracy is a delight, and Andrew Levitt is a real gas as mom Edna. Toneisha Harris’ Motormouth Maybelle also deserves mention. Likewise Brandon G. Stalling’s delightful Seaweed J. Stubbs.

David Rockwell’s set design offers several effective scenes with silhouetted actors behind the onstage group. William Ivey Long’s costumes are colorful and often amusing as well. And oh, my gosh, what can I say about those wigs by Paul Huntley and Richard Mawbey? Just enjoy them.

Originally directed on Broadway by Jack O’Brien, then artistic director of The Old Globe, this toe-tapping winner picked up eight Tonys in 2003 and ran for more than six years. If the enthusiasm of tonight’s audience is any indication, it still reels ‘em in.

With a cast of 30-some and a fine orchestra of nine led by Patrick Hoagland, what are you waiting for? Get on down to the Civic Theatre for a fun time because, you know, you can’t stop the beat. But hurry, it’s only here through Sunday.

“Hairspray” runs through November 21. For tickets, see broadwaysd.com.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a recent test is required, as is a face mask.