‘Hairspray’ takes four Oliviers

LONDON -- It took five years for the Broadway musical “Hairspray” to make its way to London, but the delay didn’t hurt. Just as the original swept the Tonys, so did the British version lead the field at the Laurence Olivier theater awards, taking four major prizes including best musical.

Newcomer Leanne Jones was named best actress in a musical for her performance as Tracy Turnblad, a teenager who dreams of dancing away the racial divide in 1960s Baltimore.

Stage star Michael Ball won the prize for best actor in a musical for his cross-dressing turn as Tracy’s mother, Edna -- a role played by Harvey Fierstein on Broadway and John Travolta in last year’s film adaptation.

Tracie Bennett was named best supporting performer in a musical for playing scheming TV producer Velma Von Tussle in “Hairspray.”

The Olivier Awards, Britain’s equivalent of the Tonys, honor achievements in London theater, musicals, dance and opera. Actor Richard E. Grant hosted Sunday’s ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

Rising movie star Chiwetel Ejiofor was named best actor for “Othello,” beating Ian McKellen for “King Lear” and Patrick Stewart for “Macbeth.”

Kristin Scott Thomas was named best actress for her role in Anton Chekhov’s play “The Seagull.”

Rupert Goold took the directing prize for his production of “Macbeth,” which featured “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “X-Men” star Stewart in a Soviet-inspired production of Shakespeare’s tragedy.

“A Disappearing Number,” theater company Complicite’s playful take on the philosophy of mathematics, was named best new play. “Rafta, Rafta,” Ayub Khan-Din’s warmhearted family saga set in an Indian community in northern England, took the prize for best new comedy.

Composer-impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber received a special award for his achievements and for his recent role in bringing theater to new audiences worldwide.