THE joyous faces of very man, woman and child in the cast of “Hairspray – The Broadway Musical” said it all as they graciously and gratefully acknowledged repeated curtain calls from a rapturous audience in the Volunteer Hall, Galashiels, on Monday night.

The show they had just performed with such confidence, exuberance and utter professionalism had been an absolute belter and the prolonged standing ovation they were accorded by a packed house was no more than they deserved.

“This was right up there with the West End production,” observed one audience member as we wandered out into the cold night air after three hours of superb entertainment, courtesy of Galashiels Amateur Operatic Society.

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