Hairspray

Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Mark O'Donnell, Thomas Meehan, based on the John Waters movie

Original production: Leicester Curve (dir Paul Kerryson)

Venue Cymru, Llandudno

April 7-12; 2hrs 30mins

(also Sunderland Empire, April 14-19 - final stop on the show's lengthy current tour)

The cast of high-energy comedy musical Hairspray

Perfect bouffant or shaggy mess? Hairspray was originally nominated for eight Tony awards and 11 Oliviers, so I expected the former - and the fast-moving, well-choreographed, colourful and energetic production doesn't disappoint.

There is much more to the plot than being just a happy evening's entertainment, though. With tongue firmly in cheek, the show addresses not only racism but issues of body image, weight and age too.

Set in Baltimore, Maryland at the height of the civil rights struggle in 1962, precocious teenager Tracy Turnblad (Katie Brace) is obsessed with the Corny Collins TV dance show and throws herself into an audition. Rejected for being overweight, she learns dance moves from a local black dancer, Seaweed (Reece Richards), bags a place on the show and enjoys a meteoric rise to fame. When she finds out black teens can only dance on the show once a fortnight, she spearheads a campaign to end the discrimination.

Katie is well supported by Neil Hurst as her mother, Edna and Dermot Canavan as Wilbur, her father. Some of the song and dance routines are spectacular - the stand-out solo for me being that of Michelle Ndegwa as Motormouth Maybelle singing I know where I’ve been, designed to be a show-stopper and it really is.

Sixty years on from the period of the show, it is difficult to understand the attitudes prevalent back then in parts of the USA. The early 1960s was a time of huge cultural change, with the growth of youth culture and its own music and fashion. Part of that was was an adoration of of black music by many white teens, despite their parents believing it to be subversive and evil. The show doesn't shy away from the authoritarian view that what those in charge say goes - even when their peaceful protest sees them wind up in jail and they are subject to a "shoot to kill" order on their escape. It seems outlandish, but this was, indeed is, a reality for many protesters.

So this is the extraordinary thing about Hairspray: it is light-hearted production with an uplifting sense of fun, but the background issues are serious and beautifully handled. A standing ovation at the finale is common, and perfectly justified.

More info and tickets here