By Leslie Simons

Expect to be “chair-dancing” with the rest of the audience when you come to see Twelfth Night Production’s Hairspray playing at the West Seattle High School theatre this week. The music is joyful, even infectious. You will find it replaying in your head long after you leave. If you are uninitiated as a follower of Hairspray, here is your chance to take in the full experience in a community setting as good as it gets. The casting and artistic direction alone take this small venue event right in to the neighborhood of Broadway itself.

First night audiences were definitely pleased and by the second night, Ashley Rose Klimper as Tracey Turnblad, had them wiggling in their seats. She is so right for this role; easily transporting you to 1962 Baltimore in the first scene where she and the other cast members keep you glued to your seats for the rest of the evening. Singing and dancing you through a roller coaster of emotion, she brings Tracy fully to life as she struggles to change her world. From her opening performance of “Good Morning Baltimore” to her finale with the full cast in “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” she could have stepped in to the movie of this well-loved musical.

The entire cast is wonderful from the ensemble to the “Dynamite” girls to the stage direction. Chandler Thomas, playing Seaweed J. Stubbs, just pushes the bar even higher. Vivacious, energetic and a first rate singer and dancer, Chandler’s performance rivals those of much, much bigger venues. This young man is going places now as his “Run and Tell That” spotlight performance suggests.

Playing Seaweed’s love interest, and Tracy’s best friend, Penny Pingleton, Maggie Pederson gives us great comic relief throughout the musical and is outstanding in “Momma I’m a Big Girl Now” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” Funny, charming and more than a little ditsy, Penny is a wonderfully sweet character and Maggie us just love this silly, awkward teen.

Velma Von Tussle, played by Hilary Heinz-Luthi, is such a big, outrageous and fun character, only a seasoned actor could push the envelope without going over the top. Ms. Heinz-Luthi delivers that and more. She will snap you back to 1962 attitudes and behavior like no one else.

As if that were not enough to get you out to the theatre, Ms. Michelle Blackmon returns to the stage this season in the role of Motormouth Maybelle, the business owner and wise woman of this story. Most notably, she digs deep in to your soul with her mournful, yet hope-filled interpretation of “I Know Where I’ve Been.” Her performance alone is worth the price of admission.

Other performances to look forward to include Charlie Chittenden’s great stylization of Tracy’s grandiose turned introspective boyfriend, Link Larsen and Kyla Roberts as Amber Von Tussle. Michael Byron-Ingersoll, as Wilbur Turnblad did a wonderful job. Mitch Ebert knocked his acting debut role as Corny Collins out of the park and Jon Thumim gave a solid performance as Edna Turnblad, the simple dreamer of stored away dreams and Tracy’s mom.

Come for the music, stay for the period costumes and the great, big hair, full of curls and hairspray reminding this author of times in her childhood where she stood gasping in her mother’s bathroom while she did her hair. A special nod goes to Daniel J. Garcia for wig and hair styles, as well as to the orchestra without which there is no music in the musical – “Kudos” to everyone!” And, “Hats off” to Twelfth Night Productions for this delicious treat.
Be sure to make room in your week to come enjoy Hairspray! You will be so glad; “You Can’t Stop the Beat!

The final evening performances are scheduled for 19, and 20 at 7:30pm
Matinee performances begin at 3pm and are set for Aug. 20 and 21.

WSHS Theater is located at 3000 California Ave. SW.

Get tickets here:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2559227