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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Nick Curtis's rating
Reader rating
Dir: Jack O'Brien, Jerry Mitchell (choreographer), Lon Hoyt (musical director).
Cast: Adrian Hansel, Verity Rushworth, Nigel Planer, Liam Tamne, Brian Conley, Paul Manuel, Johnnie Fiori, Liz Robertson, Zoe Rainey, Chloe Hart
Description: A poignant musical by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, based on the film by John Waters about big-hearted Baltimore girl Tracy Turnblad.
Times: Tue-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat & Sun 3pm (extra mats Dec 22 & 23, 30, Feb 17, Apr 7, 14, Jun 2, Aug 18, 25, 3pm, no eve perf Dec 24, no perf Dec 25), booking to Dec 21 2010
Price: £22.50-£62.50, concs available, limited £25 front row stalls seats available in person from 10am on day of the performance
Trains: Tube: Holborn/Tottenham Court Road 
Phone: 0207379 5399
Website: www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk
Spirit of the beehive: Leanne Jones as Tracy Turnblad, with Michael Ball, far left, as her mother
Hairspray eminently deserves the four Olivier awards that accompany the Evening Standard Best Musical statuette on its mantelpiece. The show's combination of wryly upbeat songs, exuberant Sixties kitsch and a primary-coloured message of tolerance remains potent, its energy - even on a weekday matinée - undimmed.
Leanne Jones is every inch a star - in circumference and height - as the plus-size heroine Tracy Turnblad, even if Michael Ball is dragging out his dragged-up laughs as Tracy's mother.
Most impressive, though, is the way a sustained blast of Hairspray has brought the Shaftesbury Theatre back to life.
This always seemed one of the more hapless of London's 40 major playhouses. Originally opened in 1911 as the New Prince's, it was the last theatre built on Shaftesbury Avenue but was stranded at the northern end, in the area once known as St Giles's, a notorious former slum that never quite shook off its reputation for seediness.
Although the theatre enjoyed success in the Twenties with Gilbert and Sullivan seasons, and found a post-war role as a home for musicals, the rot set in in 1973, when part of the roof fell in, bringing to an end the record-breaking run of 1,998 performances by the nude, counter-culture singalong Hair.
After that, the Shaftesbury vied with the Piccadilly and the Playhouse for the title of London's unluckiest theatre - venues that, for reasons of geography or unfortunate programming became graveyards for shows, to which audiences could not be enticed.
Toyah Willcox once told me about the miserable experience of playing the place in her Eighties punk days, when it was so cold she could see the hostile audience's frosty breath. When we spoke she was about to return to the Shaftesbury in Calamity Jane, a show that duly joined the long line of musicals that, before and since, have keeled over and died there - Napoleon, Lautrec, Bat Boy, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Daddy Cool.
For a long time I thought the Shaftesbury should be bought for the nation and used to house the Theatre Museum's collection. Now Hairspray has rejuvenated it, and warmed up the local business and restaurants of St Giles's in advance of a major redevelopment of the area. I'm glad I was wrong.
• Booking to 4 April 2009 (020 7379 5399, www.hairspraythemusical.co.uk).
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
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Our family just watched Hairspray in August 2009, with Brian Conley playing the part of the Mum, and Chloe Hart in the Tracey role, and we absolutely loved the show. Great laughs, great voices and cast and visually it's a treat. Whilst the two leads, the Mum and Tracey are just fantastic, this is a real ensemble effort and it was tight cast who worked together brilliantly to deliver a really enjoyable experience. We all, including Jack aged 8 and Kate 14 loved this show to bits. We've seen loads of musicals but we rank this one at the top for entertainment and pleasure from the first to the last note.
- Jackie, Liverpool
"...... even if Michael Ball is dragging out his dragged-up laughs as Tracy's mother."
Not sure what this comment is intended to mean. IMO the two of the main reasons people have come to see 'Hairspray' have been Leanne's wonderful performance as Tracey and Michael's equally wonderful portrayal of Edna. These two performances are at the heart of this and musical the mother daughter chemistry is very much in evidence.
It is great that the Shaftesbury has been brought back to life by this show. Hairspray has put the Shaftesbury theatre back on the map and I wager it wont be so hard for people to find it in the future .
- Andrewj, East Midlands
