Some friends of mine hate musicals. But, they don't talk about problems with the goofy plots and all that dancing. No, they complain about the singing, and how it slows the show down, and it goes on and on, and, well, I can't really blame them. If all they've seen are the C grade musicals that have toured through town over the past several years - The Civil War and its ilk are prime examples - then I get it. They can't complain about the dancing, because there is no dancing. The songs seem to go and on because they really do. What about good old fashioned musical comedy, where the chorus boysjump around in tight pants and the laughs are honest? The Producers helped bring about a new crop of these, as has Hairspray, a thoroughly enjoyable show at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, in its second trip through town.

This time, Jim J. Bullock is the semi-name, appearing not as Edna Turnblad, oversized mom to Tracy, the would-be dance show queen, but as Mr. Turnblad, owner of the Hard-Har joke shop. He does a fine job, and surprises with his strong voice. The entire cast, however, once again rises to the demands of this show. And, the demands are plenty.

For the first 15 minutes the cast is asked to dance almost non-stop at a feverish pace of 1960s influenced choreography. And, one after the next, throughout the evening, the big numbers keep coming. There's not a dud in sight, and the energy of the dancers never flags. The now familiar story sticks close to the movie, with a sweetness more apparent on stage, but one that was always there to be found in the movie. It's hard to fathom how anyone could find fault with the ugly duckling, come from behind story, and this cast gives it their all..

Hawaiian Keala Settle makes a quirky Tracy and Aaron Tveit is a charming and handsome Link. The talented Jerry Mitchell has choreographed a joyous show, and Jack O'Brien's direction of this show is still right on. Let's hope the eventual movie of this show can maintain this level of excellence.