'Welcome to the 60s' was the message resonating from the Empire Theatre last night as the stylish Hairspray put a gleeful grin on the fresh faces of many.
Impossible to ignore, the show was like a tsunami wave of extravagant bounce as the high school musical esque performance was wrapped up in a history lesson of racial equality.
Set in 1962, the generous sized yet aspirational Tracy Turnblad has a dream and will backcomb her roots incessantly in search of ultimate teen stardom - to become a member of the 60s TV dance spectacular, the Corny Collins Show.
Believing that she can mix it up with the singing and dancing elite, the show takes the audience on a journey down reminiscence road to a time when in their youthful ambition they truly believed make a difference.
Interspersed in the twee musicality lurks a social inequality, where the battles line of segregation is drawn.
But the young and naive Tracy wants to scrub away the line from existence as she emerges as a surprise political force, questioning the "stupidity" of separation.
The pint-sized teen faces prejudice on all fronts as she launches herself onto the front line of personal adolescence competing for the affections of Corny Collins Show star Link Larkin with Barbie doll Amber Von Trussel, but at the same time jumps on the soap box for young black people - all in the name of song and dance.
Spinning day-glo sets from the Corny Collins Show studio to Motormouth Maybelle's record store provide a worthy visual feast to accompany Marc Shaiman's most uplifting score of blues, soul and rock n roll.
But underneath a show that caters for all the senses, a mention must go to the local lads who split the sides of an adoring audience.
The Liverpudlian duo of Les Dennis and the 'done-up' larger than life heroine Michael Starke kept the crowd on the edge of their seats every time they emerged from the stage's wings.
Spontaneous and rapturous applause greeted each and every sighting as Starke, Edna Turnblad, brought conviction and witty sarcasm to the role, literally bouncing off husband for the night Wilbur Turnblad, played by Dennis.
The pair's duet nearing the half-way point of the show may have broken the illusion of theatre but gave audience members the biggest laugh of the night, as hysterical laughter consumed Dennis as the couple cosied up for a moment of Merseyside intimacy.
Energetic, feel good fun: 8/10
Hairspray runs until Saturday 4th September at the Liverpool Empire.
For tickets and more information visit www.liverpoolempire.org.uk.
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mccann, oldwsan around 1 year, 5 months ago