The following review contains opinions that are the author's alone.
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"Hairspray" review
by Jeff Davis

The Pied Piper Youth Theater in Stormville, N.Y. has always been light years ahead of traditional school play-type productions. Shows put forth are consistently filled with strong performances and erstwhile emotional power. This is especially gratifying, given that the average age of a performer in the troop is somewhere around ten years old, with more than a few cast members in the first and second grades.

But Pied Piper kids are growing up, and while new, young additions to the troupe join for each production, the bedrock of local talent that courses through the halls of the White Pond Center is maturing.  Last year’s production of “Godspell Jr.” was an eye-opener to the blossoming of real, sustained talent within the group.  The summer production of “Little Shop of Horrors”, with its comic-tragic ending intact, proved that the kids could handle real theater. The show was chock-full of comedy, tragedy and, of course, full-blown musical numbers that brought the audience to its feet, and had them singing all the way home. 

Under the guidance of Artistic Directors John and Bonnie Ryerson, the Pied Piper Youth Theater pulled out all of the stops with their latest effort, “Hairspray”.

Set in a racially-segregated, urban Baltimore , circa 1962, “Hairspray” grabs hold of social prejudices and shakes them until they cry for forgiveness, with an unflinching, and often comic approach to the way people treat each other based on societal norms. Smart, energetic musical numbers leave no sacred cows unbruised, as Tracy, an “overweight” kid trying to follow her dreams, finds herself standing up for something bigger than she could have imagined.
The production, following the script of the hit Broadway show, would be a tall order for any group of actors.  The Pied Piper Players have proved, once again, that they are up to the challenge.

On a stage filled with talented kids, the young actors in the lead roles showed off their considerable skills in the opening night production. With the perfect blend of sweet-natured kid and thrilling vocal power, Tracy was effortlessly brought to life by Chelsea Blaney, resulting in another star turn in a long line of outstanding performances.  Carl MacDonald offered up his finest performance to date as Seaweed, a kid from the wrong side of society. Engaging and energetic, MacDonald commanded attention and deserved each moment of it, never failing to deliver. Cayley Plotkin, as Motormouth, dominated the stage with each step, handling her challenging role with confidence and punch.  Kayla Hamilton, as Velma, absolutely sparkled with style and wit, never missing a chance to be wonderful as an actress and dancer.

Elizabeth Lyons, as Tracy’s mother Edna, was hilarious, infusing her character with a warmth and likability reminiscent of the great supporting actors of Hollywood’s golden age of musicals.  In a show full of funny lines, Samantha D’Orazio delivered some of the show’s funniest, playing Tracy’s ditsy friend Penny to quirky perfection.  Kaitlin McCarthy glittered as Amber, displaying both the smugness and fragility inherent in being one of the “beautiful people” who ultimately get their comeuppance. William Velek, as teen heartthrob Link Larkin, was suave and cool, unleashing a rousing rendition of “It Takes Two” midway through the first act.

Smaller roles were no less charming. Eric Mueller, playing Tracy’s father Wilbur, made it look easy, offering up humorous dialogue with grace and ease, while handling the singing chores of his role with equal aplomb.  Liam Collins, as the host of the “American Bandstand”-type teen dance show, oozed charm in an unflinching performance.

Support roles generally help the audience to understand the environment the leads find themselves in.  It’s an important job, and was handled well in this production. Caitlin Short and Katherine Obojkovits, playing Tracy’s gym teacher and principal respectively, illustrated the high school experience with offbeat and sharp deliveries that did justice to the unapologetic script. Brandon Davis, as the over-stressed sponsor Mr. Spritzer, provided the perfect underpinnings for the retribution of the story’s antagonists.  Claire Polin, in her first role with the troupe, proved that every kid with a desire to perform can do so, and do it well, given the camaraderie and family atmosphere so prevalent in the Pied Piper Theater.

“Hairspray” is a musical. Of course, and it is here where the Ryersons excel. The Pied Piper learning model focuses on strong musical performance, and this cast never lagged behind expectations. From the wonderful chorus of “Dynamite Girls” to expertly crafted, full cast musical numbers, pages could be devoted to individual stand-outs and raves over fine performances. But, in the end, it can all be said simply;
The Pied Piper Youth Theater version of “Hairspray” was very, very well done.

Check out our performance schedule and ticket info here