Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Hair long beautiful Hair!

Almost exactly a year ago, I went to see HAIR in Central Park. I was so excited as growing up this was one of my most favorite musicals. I watched the movie over and over and over again. I guess I was a wannabe hippie. At least then I had the long beautiful hair too…not so much these days, but I still think I may be a wannabe hippie. Anyhow, I had the most amazing time seeing the show in the park. When I heard they were moving it to Broadway my first reaction was no way it won’t work as well. Well, how wrong I was! This show is even better than it was in the park and that says a lot.
It has more energy and excitement of any show I have seen on Broadway in such a long time.
For a show written in the 60’s about a tribe of New York hippies one would think this might be a dated revival. However, this show has as much or even more poignancy today as it did then.
But it is also just pure enjoyment of familiar music performed by a beautiful cast. With songs like Aquarius, Good Morning Starshine, Easy To Be Hard, to the title song Hair James Rando, Gerome Ragni and Galt MacDermot created a score that set the stage for Rock musicals today.
For those with concern…Everything from drug use, to profanity, to nudity is all handled with such great care as not to offend or shock anyone from 13 to 113. As shocking as it was in the 60’s we have lived through all the shock and so much more today that we are not anesthetized but far more understanding of why they needed to go to these measures to stand up for their rights of freedom and independence.
Not surprising that this crowd pleasing show won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. It adds just enough audience participation to make everyone feel a part of the show without being intrusive. I have never seen so many in an audience having so much fun. But it is not all fun and games…the seriousness of the piece is still apparent and definitely hits home as we have been watching our involvement in war for the last 8 years.
H. Todd Freeman
Vice President/OperationsApplause Theatre & Entertainment Service, Inc.
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