‘Spray the love

Take one part love story, one part civil rights protest and a one part teen angst, put it in a can and you have Hairspray.

The national road show stops in Milwaukee this weekend and plenty of seats are available if you’re looking for a fun, rollicking time with a subtle message of love and integration in an aerosol fog.

Friday night’s opening number was slow, as Danielle Arci gave life to the ever-optimistic Tracy Turnblad. “Good Morning Baltimore” is a perky wake-up call, but Arci’s voice was nasally and whiney. But as the show progressed and the songs became more soulful, Arci rose to the challenge and carried the lead like a pro.

The stage version of Hairspray is based on the 1988 John Waters film of the same name. The first three scenes focus on Tracy’s dream to appear on “The Corny Collins Show,” Baltimore’s after-school teen dance program. We are introduced to the clean-cut, suburban white teens that dance on the show and how they contrast with Tracy’s overweight, urban life. When Tracy decides to audition for Collin’s show using some steps she learned from the black boys in detention, the audience is apprehensive, until it is learned that Collins has secret plans to integrate his show.

That plan to integrate infuriates Collin’s producer, Velma Von Tussle, and her daughter Amber, who harbor racist attitudes and problems with people who don’t look like a Barbie or Ken doll. Erin Sullivan’s Amber and Colleen Kazemek’s Velma play the insensitive, “I’m not racist but…” characters over the top, complete with intentional whiney, pouty vocals.

Another wedge between Tracy and Amber is the heart throb Link Larkin, subtlely played by Ryan Rubek. While he could have taken the young Elvis impersonation over the top, he held back, showing the vulnerability of the character who is with Amber because it’s what he should do, while he loves Tracy because he wants to.

The show really comes to life when Debra Thais Evans takes the stage as Motormouth Melba. She plays the role of the black dance show host and record store owner big and beautiful, displaying a comfort with her size, both physically and vocally.

“Big, Blonde and Beautiful” is an anthem to all the heavy girls in the house, and while the film and Broadway Edna Turnblads typically star in this song, Evans is the centerpiece of this production. Her strong alto and natural ability to vamp kept the pace going and had us big girls dancing in our seats.

Evans’ soulful version of “I Know Where I’ve Been” in Act Two cements the main message of Hairspray, that we all need to work together to come together and that no matter how long it takes, we will get there.

Throughout the production the accompanying musicians were tight, keeping up with musical changes from white-bread pop, R&B, Negro spiritual and campy dance numbers. The costumes reflect the era, until Edna Turnblad is transformed from a tired, oversized laundress to a fashionable plus-sized mama. At that point, reality leaves the stage and sequins, beads and day-glow colors take over the costume closet.

In the end true love triumphs, the dance show is integrated and everyone lives happily ever after. And their hair hasn’t moved an inch.

Hairspray finished its tour stop at the Milwaukee Theater this Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. For more information click here.