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
Edna, the Inebriate Woman Edna, the Inebriate Woman Edna, the Inebriate Woman is a British television drama starring Patricia Hayes. The film, which was written by award-winning screenwriter Jeremy Sandford, was first broadcast on BBC 1 as part of the "Play for Today" series on 21 October 1971. It was directed by Ted Kotcheff and produced by Irene Shubik. Filming took place in November and December 1970. The play deals with an elderly woman, Edna (Patricia Hayes), who wanders through life in an alcoholic haze without a home, a job or any money. A rambling, pathetic yet defiant woman, Edna sleeps rough and begs