Hairspray (musical) encourages individuality, acceptance and freedom. It is a musical that can be applied to any social context and time, as it highlights ongoing issues such as fat-shaming, racism and discrimination. It also explores femininity in terms of the female characters. Notably, Tracy’s mother, Edna Turnblad, is performed in drag during the shows. Allowing a drag role for Edna adds a queerness to the musical as it does not include any gay characters. Edna is considered to be the non-racialised other that is part of the story in Hairspray. The musical also challenges the societal norms of a female. The body
After the Ball (musical) After the Ball (musical) After the Ball is a musical by Noël Coward, based on "Lady Windermere's Fan". After a provincial tour, the musical premiered at the Globe Theatre, London, on 10 June 1954 and ran for 188 performances until 20 November 1954. Robert Helpmann was the director, and the cast included Mary Ellis, Vanessa Lee, Peter Graves and Irene Browne. "After the Ball" was the last Coward musical launched in the West End; his last two musicals debuted on Broadway before opening in London. "After the Ball" enjoyed a 1999 Coward centenary production at the Peacock Theatre, London. Coward