Hairspray – Bradford Alhambra

HAIRSPRAY brings colourful energy, fun and laughter to Bradford Alhambra this week with non-stop music, dancing and outrageously bright outfits.

With all the show-stopping songs you'd expect with this fun-loving musical you are in for a treat if you can manage to get tickets to a show very popular amongst the young and old.

The show is set in Baltimore, America, and although Hairspray is such a light-hearted musical it does cover some hard-hitting issues which were ongoing in 1960.

Rebecca Mendoza plays the fantastic character of Tracy Turnblad, singing beautifully to the packed Alhambra, deserving the applause and cheers throughout the performance, especially at the end while we were all up singing and dancing in the aisles.

Tracy’s mother Edna Turnblad (Matt Rixon) and father Wilbur Turnblad (Norman Pace) were a match made in heaven and, with a few little hiccups with props and lines, had the audience and themselves in stitches.

Love blossoms between Tracy and Link Larkin, performed with ease by Edward Chitticks as he won the hearts of the audience.

Penny Pingleton, Tracy's best friend, was perfectly played by Annalise Liard-Bailey as a slightly ditsy girl who was very much under her mother’s thumb.

Two very strong performances, which were equally amazing, came from Velma Von Tussle (Gina Murray) and Motormouth Maybelle (Brenda Edwards) who both sang beautifully.

Amber Von Tussle (Aimee Moore), the daughter of Velma, was played perfectly for the part of the spoilt daughter.

I could carry on and mention everyone in the show as not one person played a lesser part. The scene changes were effortless and the band were note perfect.

Until Saturday. Visit bradford-theatres.co.uk or call 0127 432000 to book tickets.

LAURA HARNESS