Spring Break
Hair, A Musical Journey Back To The 60's
Anna Lawrence
Issue date: 4/18/02 Section: Arts and Entertainment
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The Age of Aquarius has returned.
Hair opens this weekend in the Players Theater and the members of the tribe will dance, groove, gyrate, sing and may even move you to tears before the final bows.
Hair, originally written by Gerome Ragni and James Rado in 1966 with music by Galt MacDermot, follows the lives of a tribe of hippies trying to cope with squares, parents, sexuality and the Vietnam War.
The story centers around Claude from "Manchester, England" and Berger, who is searching for "Donna" despite his love/hate relationship with Sheila, whom Claude attempts to get in "Bed." To complicate things, Jeanie may be pregnant with Claude's baby, and she really, really likes him. Mind you, these are all 18 - and 19-year-olds, and the year is 1968.
Meanwhile, Claude first gets pressured by his parents, and then finally drafted into the army to go fight the war in Vietnam. He is terrified, he doesn't want to die and yet he can't bring himself to burn his draft card at the "Be-In" with the rest of the boys.
Fast foward to his last night with the tribe. Hud and Berger pass out joints to all, and Claude experiences a trip that spans decades. It starts with the Vietnam War, quickly visits the Revolutionary War and spends a good amount of time with "Abie, Baby" and "The War." The Civil War that is. Finally, the play ends with Claude's inevitable trip to Vietnam, after having to cut off all the long blonde "Hair" he has been growing for years.
A number of songs touch upon the experiences associated with psychadelic drugs and the loose sexual morals adapted by the counter culture. From obvious songs, "Hashish," and "Sodomy," to songs about atually being high and "Waling in Space" and "Black Boys," "White Boys" and one girl's search for a boy named "Frank Mills."
Some of the songs rebel against the authorities the tribe deals with, other songs rebel against the war in Vietnam.
The voice of non-hippies is present, but minimal. Those outside the counter culture are treated with little respect, and taunted by those in the tribe. Their perspective, however, provides a sobering point of view in the midst of the tribe's rejoicing and dancing.
Hair opens this weekend in the Players Theater and the members of the tribe will dance, groove, gyrate, sing and may even move you to tears before the final bows.
Hair, originally written by Gerome Ragni and James Rado in 1966 with music by Galt MacDermot, follows the lives of a tribe of hippies trying to cope with squares, parents, sexuality and the Vietnam War.
The story centers around Claude from "Manchester, England" and Berger, who is searching for "Donna" despite his love/hate relationship with Sheila, whom Claude attempts to get in "Bed." To complicate things, Jeanie may be pregnant with Claude's baby, and she really, really likes him. Mind you, these are all 18 - and 19-year-olds, and the year is 1968.
Meanwhile, Claude first gets pressured by his parents, and then finally drafted into the army to go fight the war in Vietnam. He is terrified, he doesn't want to die and yet he can't bring himself to burn his draft card at the "Be-In" with the rest of the boys.
Fast foward to his last night with the tribe. Hud and Berger pass out joints to all, and Claude experiences a trip that spans decades. It starts with the Vietnam War, quickly visits the Revolutionary War and spends a good amount of time with "Abie, Baby" and "The War." The Civil War that is. Finally, the play ends with Claude's inevitable trip to Vietnam, after having to cut off all the long blonde "Hair" he has been growing for years.
A number of songs touch upon the experiences associated with psychadelic drugs and the loose sexual morals adapted by the counter culture. From obvious songs, "Hashish," and "Sodomy," to songs about atually being high and "Waling in Space" and "Black Boys," "White Boys" and one girl's search for a boy named "Frank Mills."
Some of the songs rebel against the authorities the tribe deals with, other songs rebel against the war in Vietnam.
The voice of non-hippies is present, but minimal. Those outside the counter culture are treated with little respect, and taunted by those in the tribe. Their perspective, however, provides a sobering point of view in the midst of the tribe's rejoicing and dancing.