Paramount’s powerful ‘Hairspray’ profers a potent prompt

By Barry Reszel
Perhaps it’s the love for Ariana Burks (Little Inez) among her fellow cast, crew and artistic team members seen at the after-party on press night.

Maybe it’s the raw recollection of the Laquan McDonald videotape. (See it here.)

It could be the powerful, guttural richness of E. Faye Butler as Motormouth Maybelle belting, “I Know Where I’ve Been.”

But it might be these individual and collective stories of 2015:
1. Keith Childress, 12/31/15
2. Bettie Jones, 12/25/15
3. Kevin Matthews, 12/23/15
4. Leroy Browning, 12/20/15
5. Roy Nelson, 12/19/15
6. Miguel Espinal, 12/8/15
7. Nathaniel Pickett, 11/19/15
8. Tiara Thomas, 11/18/15
9. Cornelius Brown, 11/18/15
10. Chandra Weaver, 11/17/15
11. Jamar Clark, 11/15/15
12. Richard Perkins, 11/15/15
13. Stephen Tooson, 11/12/15
14. Michael Lee Marshall, 11/11/15
15. Alonzo Smith, 11/1/15
16. Yvens Seide, 10/31/15
17. Anthony Ashford, 10/27/15
18. Lamontez Jones, 10/20/15
19. Rayshaun Cole, 10/17/15
20. Paterson Brown, 10/17/15
21. Christopher Kimble, 10/3/15
22. Junior Prosper, 9/28/15
23. Keith McLeod, 9/23/15
24. Wayne Wheeler, 9/7/15
25. India Kager, 9/5/15
26. Tyree Crawford, 9/1/15
27. James Carney III, 8/31/15
28. Felix Kumi, 8/28/15
29. Wendell Hall, 8/27/15
30. Asshams Manley, 8/14/15
31. Christian Taylor, 8/7/15
32. Troy Robinson, 8/6/15
34. Michael Sabbie, 7/22/15
35. Billy Ray Davis, 7/20/15
36. Samuel Dubose, 7/19/15
37. Darrius Stewart, 7/17/15
38. Albert Davis, 7/17/15
39. Sandra Bland, 7/13/15
40. Salvado Ellswood, 7/12/15
41. George Mann, 7/11/15
42. Jonathan Sanders, 7/8/15
43. Victo Larosa III, 7/2/15
44. Kevin Judson, 7/1/15
45. Spencer McCain, 6/25/15
47. Zamiel Crawford, 6/20/15
48. Jermaine Benjamin, 6/16/15
49. Kris Jackson, 6/15/15
50. Alan Craig Williams, 6/13/15
51. Ross Anthony, 6/9/15
52. Richard Gregory Davis, 5/31/15
54. Lorenzo Hayes, 5/13/15
55. De’Angelo Stallworth, 5/12/15
56. Dajuan Graham, 5/12/15
57. Brandon Glenn, 5/6/15
59. Nuwnah Laroche, 5/6/15
60. Jason Champion, 5/6/15
61. Bryan Overstreet, 4/28/15
62. Terrance Kellom, 4/27/15
63. David Felix, 4/25/15
64. Lashonda Ruth Belk, 4/24/15
65. Gregory Daquan Harris, 4/24/15
66. Terry Lee Chatman, 4/23/15
68. Samuel Harrell, 4/21/15
69. Freddie Gray, 4/19/15
70. Norman Cooper, 4/19/15
71. Brian Acton, 4/18/15
72. Darrell Brown, 4/17/15
73. Frank Shephard III, 4/15/15
74. Walter Scott, 4/4/15
75. Donald “Dontay” Ivy, 4/2/15
76. Eric Harris, 4/2/15
77. Phillip White, 3/31/15
78. Dominick Wise, 3/30/15
79. Jason Moland, 3/29/15
80. Nicholas Thomas, 3/24/15
81. Denzel Brown, 3/22/15
82. Brandon Jones, 3/19/15
83. Askari Roberts, 3/17/15
84. Terrance Moxley, 3/10/15
85. Anthony Hill, 3/9/15
86. Bernard Moore, 3/6/15
87. Naeschylus Vinzant, 3/6/15
88. Tony Robinson, 3/6/15
89. Charly Leundeu “Africa” Keunang, 3/1/15
90. Darrell Gatewood, 3/1/15
91. Deontre Dorsey, 3/1/15
92. Thomas Allen Jr., 2/28/15
93. Calvon Reid, 2/22/15
94. Terry Price, 2/20/15
95. Natasha McKenna, 2/8/15
96. Jeremy Lett, 2/4/15
97. Alvin Haynes, 1/26/15
98. Tiano Meton, 1/22/15
99. Andre Larone Murphy Sr., 1/7/15
100. Brian Pickett, 1/6/15
101. Leslie Sapp, 1/6/15
102. Matthew Ajibade, 1/1/15
(Source here).

Whatever the reason or reasons, Paramount Theatre’s brilliant production of Hairspray is far weightier than Edna or Tracy Turnblad, infinitely more important than the inability of Chicagoland’s consummate musical theatre professionals to “stop the beat.”

When a young patron turns to her father, noting the story’s 1962 Baltimore setting, and pointedly declares, “Not that much has changed,” it’s clear this show makes a statement and simultaneously throws down a challenge.

Yes, Black lives matter. They always have and always will. So how do we, how will we, regardless of our skin color, live lives illustrating that undeniable truth while challenging others who fail to recognize that to rethink their beliefs and practices?

Hairspray offers some suggestions, courtesy of a plus-size, Caucasian leading lady with Soul Train moves. She takes on the bigoted, hard-hearted producers of Baltimore’s “The Corny Collins Show,” a local love child of “American Bandstand” and “The Mickey Mouse Club.” Her mission is integrated dancing, and Tracy Turnblad will not rest until “every day is Negro day.” A full plot synopsis and production history of the 2003 Tony-winning Best Musical may be read here.

The current local production is masterfully led by Amber Mak in her premiere Chicagoland directorial gig. It promises to be but the first of many for the obviously gifted director/choreographer who finds herself surrounded with über-talented colleagues: Jim Corti (artistic direction), Tom Vendafreddo (musical direction) and his brilliant orchestra, Theresa Ham (costume design) and Linda Buchanan (scenic design), among others.

The onstage talent feels like a “Musical Theatre Idol” final 30. Amelia Jo Parish wows as Tracy; Butler and Burks are simply magnificent as Motormouth Maybelle and Little Inez, with “I Know Where I’ve Been” particularly moving. Gilbert Domally is a smooth Seaweed; no one will know from his performance he was pressed into duty at a post-program-printing date. Heather Townsend and Samantha Pauly do Von Tussle privileged/bitchy extraordinarily well, with Townsend offering an “Oh my God!” belt 3/4 through Act 1.

The Turnblads, Michael Ehlers as Wilbur and Michael Kingston as Edna, are funny, loveable, authentic caricatures. And no, “authentic caricature” is not necessarily oxymoronic. “Timeless to Me” in any production of Hairspray must be a hit. And it is here.

In addition, Landree Fleming distinguishes herself as “Now I’ve tasted chocolate and I’m never going back” Penny Pingleton while versatile George Keating proves Stanislavski’s “no small parts” adage (read more here) as a variety of adult men, Mr. Pinky being the greatest achievement.

In addition to those already mentioned, musical highlights include “Welcome to the ’60s,” “Big, Blonde & Beautiful,” “Without Love,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”

But deserving a paragraph of its very own is the absolutely flawless number, “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now.” Parish/Kingston, Townsend/Pauly and Fleming/Ericka Mac deliver a magnificent musical theatre performance that, if a Jeff Award was given for single numbers in a production, would have this year’s captured.

This Hairspray is a splendid production from the regional venue that sets the bar ever-higher with each show it embraces. This time it reaches even beyond the stage.

Because in a presidential election year, when authority figures and presidential candidates contribute to the “whole lotta ugly comin’ at you from a never ending parade of stupid,” it will only be the arts and humanities that remind us love knows no color.

Here’s hoping the next time Paramount Theatre stages Hairspray, it will be but as a cute anachronism.

In the meantime…Top row, from left: Rayshaun Cole (killed by police), David Davis (Hairspray cast), Tiara Thomas (killed by police), Carlita Victoria (Hairspray cast); Second row, from left: Samuel Harrell (killed by police), Gilbert Domally (Hairspray cast), Allie Jae (Hairspray cast), Bettie Jones (killed by police); Third row, from left: Reneisha Jenkins (Hairspray cast), Natasha McKenna (killed by policy), Brian Nelson (Hairspray cast), Matthew Ajibude (killed by police); Fourth row, from left: William Chapman (killed by police), Jaymes Osborne (Hairspray cast), Phil Young (Hairspray cast), Jeremy Lett (killed by police); Bottom row, from left, E. Faye Butler (Hairspray cast), Sandra Bland (killed by police), Danielle Jackman (Hairspray cast) and India Kager (killed by police).

“Hairspray” runs through February 21 at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Show times are Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Thursday at 7 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $41 to $56. Tickets and information are available online here, or by phone at (630) 896-6666.