Hairspray, a classic Broadway musical that won eight Tony awards in 2003, has stomped onto the Theatre Cedar Rapids stage with splashy lighting, loud 1960’s music, splendid choreography, and wild costumes. The matinee crowd was applauding vigorously all afternoon, but saved their biggest ovations for Michael Olinger’s drag performance as Edna Turnblad. He lived up to everything I remember from seeing Harvey Fierstein in the role in New York years ago.
All the majors except perhaps Calvin Boman as Link Larson
seemed on target. Belle Canney was both earnest and buoyant. Brandon Burkhardt was
oily and smooth. Larson just seemed a bit understated when thrown into the rest
of the high-energy cast. He may not have been feeling up to par.
I was particularly impressed by TCR’s vast lighting and costume resources. They were put to the test and succeeded in charging every moment with color and sparkle. Hats off as well to the choreography. for sure. These folks can dance and they were put through their paces immaculately by Megan Helmers. I have seen musicals--a lot of musicals-- and her work is right up there with anything I have witnessed in New York.
It is also a pleasure to see that one can still find people
with the courage to mount and perform a show that finds pertinence in
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion despite a government that has tried to eliminate the words from the English language. The audience was filled with children
and adults who didn’t seem to find a drag performance sinful or the
participation and defending of protests against the established order unpatriotic.
This is a show to see if you can. TCR seems to excel in
musicals. I know they have to put patrons in seats, but one can only wish they would
bring more of the same talents to bear on other kinds of dramatic works.
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