Remember those old Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney movies where a bunch of teenagers got together and put on one humdinger of a show?
Maybe you don't but that's exactly what happened when a group of inspired, enthusiastic and talented KGGS and King's School pupils got together to put on the musical Hairspray.
For three nights from November 4th to 6th, they wowed audiences at the Roberts Hall, KGGS, in a production that was entirely put on by the students.
Set in 1960s racially segregated Baltimore, it's the story of how size 16 Tracy Turnblad breaks down the barriers of prejudice through song and dance.
Sophie Howell was excellent as Tracy, ably supported by Stephanie King as Amber Von Tussle, Maddie Rowland as Velma, Jessica Folmer as Penny Pingleton, Mariam Suleiman as Motormouth Maybelle and David Bauer as Link Larkin who also directed the show.
Comedy value was provided by Joshua Noon who pulled on a fat suit, frock and curlers to play Tracy's agrophobic mother, Edna.
Shimmying his way across the floor, this young-star-in-the making brought the house down, singing a duet with Jake Muffet who played Edna's husband Wilbur.
Mention must also be made of the excellent band, stage set and truly fabulous costumes. Encore please!
The musical Hairspray would be a monumental challenge for any theatre production company to stage but for a group of keen young people from Grantham schools it could well have been a step too far.
With professional casts putting the show on Broadway and in the West End, this company had a very difficult task.
Hairspray is a musical based on the 1988 John Waters film of the same name.
In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on the Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance programme.
When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes an overnight celebrity.
She then launches a campaign to racially integrate the show and Hairspray becomes a social commentary on the injustices of American society in the 1960s.
The songs include 1960s-style dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues.
Notwithstanding the difficult themes and scale of the piece, the young production team set about the immense task with enthusiasm, drive and overwhelming passion.
They surrounded themselves not only with an enthusiastic and gifted group of young actors and dancers, but also with extremely talented musicians under the joint Musical Directorship of Sarah James and Adam Williams.
A production as successful as this is a necessary collaboration between cast and production team.
Without immense contributions from every person, the end result would have been diminished.
However, the leading lady, Sophie Howell, who played Tracy Turnblad, deserves special mention.
Her authentic American accent never wavered and her strong voice helped produce a very plausible character from beginning to end.
Her mother, Edna Turnblad, who was played by Michael Ball in the West End production, was very cleverly acted by Josh Noon, who fashioned the character with just the right amount of comical farce and he was very well supported by Jake Muffett in the role of Wilbur Turnblad, Tracy's father.
Congratulations must also be given to co-director Stephanie King, for her portrayal of Tracy's arch rival, Amber Von Tussle, which was flawless and entertaining throughout and to David Bauer who not only directed and produced the show, but also took a leading role as Tracy's love interest, Link Larkin.
This very talented young man has a strong future ahead of him in the future.
Strong performances were also given by all the principal characters: Maddie Rowland (Velma Von Tussle); Stephen Blanchard (Seaweed J Stubbs); Mariam Suleiman (Motormouth Maybelle); Josh Lee (Corny Collins); Jessica Folmer (Penny Pingleton) and Abigail Mahony (Little Inez).
The vibrant set, costume and wigs all helped to make this a joyous and colourful musical, by which the audience could not fail to have been impressed.
The singing was strong, the dancing admirable under the expert direction of Chorepgrapher Vickie King, the acting thoroughly entertaining and the entire cast's enthusiasm was infectious.
Well done to everybody who was involved with the show!
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