Critical Review at Hennepin Arts

  Hairspray : Feel-Good! Emmanuel Edebiri Hairspray is a feel-good musical: it's comedic, witty, and has great music. Did I mention it's anti-segregation? How progressive! Hairspray instills a very deep, profound meaning throughout the show. I think the phrase, “I’d make every day negro day,” exemplifies this theme of racial equity the most. But, let’s be honest, who is this show made for? Is the history of segregation and racial hate addressed as a means to encourage others to never commit those atrocities again – or are the sufferings of black people used as comedy for a white audience to laugh at? Hairspray has its funny moments, I can attest to that, but as a black person in the audience I didn't see many others who looked like me laughing at the racial comments. Hairspray was written by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, two white writers, so from the get-go black voices were never involved or highlighted in the show’s production. Black struggle remains a sour...

  Claire Huss Hairspray Good Morning Minneapolis! Jam-packed with lights, dancing, and nostalgic music, Hairspray is the most fun show I have seen in years. Set in Baltimore 1962, the musical follows Tracy Turnblad as she embarks on her journey toward nationwide fame. Tracy dreams of dancing on the Corny Collins Show but doubts herself because of her weight. She gains confidence after dancing alongside Black students in detention after school but feels discouraged that they will not be able to dance together. So, Tracy decides to push for integration, even at the cost of being labeled a radical. A story of outcasts and overcoming adversity, Hairspray is quirky, fast-paced, and sure to put a smile on your face.  The ensemble performances in this production blew most of the leads out of the water. In particular, Tracy (Niki Metcalf) struggled to keep up vocally, with the adept ensemble backing her up. Her spoken lines were excellent, though, and she had some of the best deliveri...

  Hairspray - Bad Hair Day! by Huxley Westemeier Broadway productions are choosing to lean into more sincere and relevant storylines, yet Hairspray ’s new tour remains as simplistic as when it opened on Broadway in 2002. The story follows Tracy Turnblad and her quest to perform on the “Corny Collins” dance show amidst a backdrop of segregation in 1960s Baltimore. While the technical elements, sets, and lighting would have created an immersive theater experience twenty years ago, the 2023 production feels cheap, oversimplified, and plagued with a multitude of filler scenes, obesity jokes, confetti cannons, and cartoonish set pieces that detract from the storyline of racial discrimination. All of the actor’s performances were technically perfect, but lacking extra spark, which was likely a result of poor direction from Matt Lenz (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). The stage and dance numbers felt sparse throughout the show, and emotional moments were hastily interrupted by unwar...