Arts & Entertainment
Teased up but Waters-downed
Signature’s ‘Hairspray’ adept and entertaining but distanced from source material
‘Hairspray’
Signature Theatre
4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington
Through Jan. 29
$63 and up
703-820-9771
signature-theatre.org
Carolyn Cole, center, as Tracy Turnblad with the cast of ‘Hairspray.’ (Photo by Christopher Mueller; courtesy Signature)
“Hairspray’s” chubby heroine Tracy Turnblad never set out to be an activist. She just wanted to dance on TV.
Like a lot of teens, Tracy is into pop music, cute boys and the latest fashion trends which, in 1962 Baltimore, means big hair. But more than anything she’d like to be a regular dancing on “The Corny Collins Show” (think “American Bandstand”). Despite being overweight, Tracy realizes her dream and emerges as a breakout star. Not content to make inroads exclusively in size inclusiveness, she pushes for the show to integrate — Tracy wants her new black friends (from whom she learns the latest moves) to be on air every afternoon and not just once a month on “Negro Day.” Risking her newfound fame, she leads a protest against the TV station’s racist policies and finds teen romance in the process.
Based on gay auteur John Waters’ same-titled 1988 film (see our Waters’ interview here), the multiple Tony Award-winning musical “Hairspray” is an anti-segregation story with a good beat you can dance to. Marc Shaiman, the show’s composer and its co-lyricist with his musical and life partner Scott Wittman, have drawn inspiration from early ‘60s pop and R&B, but the high energy and heartwarming score is still distinctly Broadway. Highlights include “Good Morning Baltimore,” “Welcome to the ‘60s” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”
Admirably staged by Signature’s gay artistic director Eric Schaeffer, the production is relatively intimate and incessantly entertaining. Per usual, Schaeffer has brought together an able creative team. Karma Camp and Brianne Camp’s vigorous choreography reads like a slice from a great ‘60s dance party. John Kalbfleisch is the musical director and pianist Jenny Cartney conducts a top-notch nine-piece orchestra. The witty, colorful costumes are by Kathleen Geldard and set designer Daniel Conway provides a gritty, midnight blue Baltimore streetscape dominated by a faded advert for Ultra Clutch Hairspray — so much better than the New York production’s Day-Glo explosion.
A talented mix of familiar and new faces comprises the 25-person cast including big-voiced Carolyn Cole as the indomitable, bubbly Tracy. Sherri L. Edelen is wonderfully corrupt as villainess Velma Von Tussle, the TV show’s racist producer. Lynn Audrey Neal plays both the butch gym teacher and the butch — but tap dance-loving — jail matron. Nova Y. Payton’s Motormouth Maybelle brings down the house with a powerful rendition of the heartfelt spiritual “I Know Where I’ve Been.”
Lauren Williams is terrific as goony Penny, Tracy’s loyal best friend who, despite the hysterical prejudices of her tyrannical mother (Neal again), finds love with African-American teen Seaweed (the excellent James Hayden Rodriquez) and blossoms into a happy and fashionable “checkerboard chick.”
In a bit of stunt casting, national radio and public TV personality Robert Aubry Davis (who’s straight) swaps out his usual cultured tones for more “Balmer, hon” sounds and wears a dress in the role of Tracy’s mother Edna. While his portrayal of the agoraphobic housewife who takes in washing isn’t as layered as those of more professional actors like drag superstar Divine and drag-acquainted Harvey Fierstein who played Edna in the original film and on Broadway respectively (John Travolta donned the triple X housedress for the musical film version), Davis’ wistful Edna grows on you.
Waters’ version was one of the notorious director’s first ventures into the mainstream, so it’s less raunchy than his earlier stuff, and the musical “Hairspray’s” libretto is a tad cleaner still. But the hilarious Waters’ worldview remains. Tracy’s mother pops diet pills. Her father sells whoopee cushions. Girls stuff their bras and boys stuff their briefs. And in her struggle to be both stylish and do the right thing, Tracy ends up in high school detention and even jail. But the more the plus-size teen defies authority, the better life is for her and those around her, and the higher her hair rises.
The Victory Fund held its National Champagne Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, April 27. Speakers included Tim Gunn, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.).
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Music & Concerts
Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’
Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.
Singer Tom Goss will bring his “Bear Friends Furever Tour” to D.C. on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Red Bear Brewing Co.
Among the songs he will perform will be “Bear Soup,” the fourth installment in his beloved bear song anthology series. Following fan favorites like “Bears,” “Round in All the Right Places,” and “Nerdy Bear,” this high-energy, bass-thumping banger celebrates body positivity, joyful indulgence, and the vibrant spirit of the bear subculture.
For more details, visit Tom Goss’s website.
Friday, May 2
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at P.F. Chang’s. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, May 3
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. There are all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more information and events for LGBTQ People of Color, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.
Sunday, May 4
“The Chateau Drag Brunch” will be at 12 p.m. at Chicatana. Enjoy fabulous Mexican food and cocktails while being entertained by a rotating cast of the DMV’s best drag performers. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
“The Bubble: Queer Brooklyn Comics in DC” will be at 5 p.m. at As You Are. Queer comedians Charlie Flynn, Evan Lazarus and Keara Sullivan are coming down from NYC for a night of fun as they split an hour of standup comedy. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Monday, May 5
“Center Aging Monday Coffee & Conversation” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Tuesday, May 6
Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more details, email [email protected].
Wednesday, May 7
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older queer women can meet and socialize with one another. We will have discussion, activities, and a chance for you to share what you want future events to include. For more details, email [email protected].
Thursday, May 8
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga with Sarah M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
South Asian Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The peer support group is an outlet for South Asian-identified LGBTQ individuals to come and talk about anything affecting them. It’s a secure, judgment-free environment to discuss relationships, sexuality, health, well-being, identity, culture, religion, or anything that is on your mind. For more details, email [email protected].
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