Marriott's 'Hairspray' provides a happy high for audiences

When historians look back on this decade's influential musicals, "Hairspray" will definitely be near the top of the list. "Hairspray" was a smash hit when it first bowed on Broadway in 2002, and it epitomized (along with "The Producers") the best of the trend of films being transformed into wildly successful stage musicals.

But more importantly, "Hairspray" is one of the funniest, most crowd-pleasing musicals to come along in some time. And when the show is as marvelously cast and staged as it is by director/choreographer Marc Robin in Marriott Theatre's regional premiere, "Hairspray" is musical comedy heaven.

Set in 1962, "Hairspray" centers on the chubby Baltimore teenager Tracy Turnblad (Broadway veteran Marissa Perry in a wonderfully kewpie doll-voiced performance). Tracy's dream is to be a regular "council member" on "The Corney Collins Show," a locally produced TV dance show (think "American Bandstand" complete with a Dick Clark-type host played by the smooth Bernie Yvon).

Tracy not only has a major crush on the show's handsome crooner, Link Larkin (a tall and strapping Billy Tighe), but she also wants "The Corney Collins Show" to be racially integrated since she is in awe of dancers like Seaweed J. Stubs (an amazing Josh Breckenridge), who is featured on the once-a-month "Negro Day" broadcast.

Despite all the potential strikes against Tracy (her weight, her eccentric family and her "controversial" political views), Tracy eventually triumphs in this peppy integration fantasy that reminds audiences of how far America has come from its segregationist past while simultaneously plastering a smile on everyone's face.

One of the best strengths of "Hairspray" is Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's witty and original score, which sounds just like a stream of 1960s pop hits (Be thankful that "Hairspray's" original producers went this route in adapting John Waters' 1988 cult film classic instead of just plugging in 1960s chart toppers like other jukebox musicals this decade). The campy script by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan also has its numerable laughs.

But what local audiences will really appreciate in Marriott's "Hairspray" is the joy of recognizing so many Chicago stage actors in supporting roles. They all practically knock their performances out of the park.

Like in all previous renditions of "Hairspray," the role of Tracy's overweight mother, Edna Turnblad, gets played by a man. Ross Lehman wisely doesn't camp up the femininity, but plays Edna as a down-to-earth mother and housewife. At intermission, I overheard one elderly woman who was surprised when her friends pointed out that Edna was played by a man.

Providing strong fatherly support to Perry's Tracy is Gene Weygandt as Edna's hyper joke-shop-owning husband, Wilbur. As Tracy's slightly clueless teenage friend, Penny Pingleton, Heidi Kettenring is a gangly (and later beautifully blossoming) delight.

Hollis Resnik has a ball playing the bigoted Waspish TV station owner Velma Von Tussle, who schemes to rig the "Miss Teenage Hairspray" contest so her spoiled daughter, Amber (a snide Johanna McKenzie Miller), will win.

But the performer who truly brings down the house is E. Faye Butler as the record-shop owner and part-time TV host Motormouth Maybelle. Butler delivers tour-de-force performances of the Act I closer "Big, Blonde and Beautiful" and the soulful protest song "I Know Where I've Been."

The only wrong note in the cast comes from Scott Calcagno. Even though the audience loves all his weird "male-authority figure" characterizations, Calcagno overdoes them to the hilt.

Director/choreographer Robin deserves kudos for keeping the stage abuzz in a constant swirl of 1960s dances and movement. Even if some of the focus gets lost thanks to necessities of the theater-in-the-round surroundings, Robin's overall work is stellar.

Since "Hairspray" is no longer playing on Broadway, expect it to start popping up soon at local high schools everywhere. But before those age-appropriate amateurs get their hands on it, see "Hairspray" done right at the Marriott by local professionals.

"Hairspray"

Location: Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

Showtimes: 1 and 8 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 4:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 5 p.m. Sundays; through Dec. 6

Running time: 2 hours and 30 minutes with a 15-minute intermission

Tickets: $45 (tax and handling fees not included) with dinner packages available

Parking: Nearby lots

Rating: Some sexual innuendo, but largely for general audiences