 HAIR
The American Tribal Rock Musical in 2 acts: Book and Lyrics by Gerome
Ragni and James Rado; Music by Galt MacDermot
Produced for the Broadway Stage by Michael Butler
Originally Produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival Theatre
Biltmore Theatre, Broadway - (1836 perfs)
Shaftesbury Theatre, London - 27 September, 1968 (1997 perfs)
The story
" ..... be free, no guilt, be whatever you are, do whatever you want,
just as long as you don't hurt anyone". This Utopian philosophy incorporates
many concepts which supply lyrics for a show comprised almost exclusively
of rock musical numbers.
In the age of Aquarius, a time of harmony and understanding, sex
and drugs are used as vehicles to evade reality and the establishments.
George Berger sets the mood in a song about his recent banishment from
high school (Going Down). He learns of the draft notice received
by his friend, Claude. Claude, whose only valuable possession, other than
his freedom, is his Hair, tells of its joys, "Give me a head of
hair, long beautiful hair, shining, streaming, flaxen, waxen ... let it
fly in the breeze ... I want it long, straight, curly, fuzzy, snaggy shaggy
...."
Sheila, a protester from NYU who lives with Berger and Claude, aspires
to spread love. In an effort to please, Sheila buys Berger a yellow satin
shirt, which he spurns. She feels rejected (Easy To Be Hard). Another
girl, Crissy, alone in her thoughts, sings of a boy she once met and of
her longings to meet him again (Frank Mills).
The boys burn their draft cards, exhibiting devotion to peace (Hare
Krishna). Claude puts his card into the fire, changes his mind and
removes it. He has ambivalent feelings about escaping the draft (Where
Do I Go?). The kids recognise there is no escape and to ease the immediate
tension, Berger passes "joints" to all.
Claude's hallucinations (Walking In Space) are images of war.
Two of the group express their feelings about mankind (What a Piece
of Work Is Man). Claude realises that once he is inducted into the
Army, he will not be able to enjoy all of life's simple pleasures (Good
Morning, Starshine and The Bed). He sees life in the streets
offers no more fulfilment than life in the establishment. The stripping
away of his feeling leaves him a feeling of doom. Dressed in a military
uniform Claude enters the sanctum of the kids, but they are unable to
see him (Eyes Look Your Last). The finale reveals Claude lying
in his uniform on a black cloth in centre stage (The Flesh Failures).
As a social commentary of our times, Hair provides an insight
into the Flower Children of the '60s. As the first and most successful
of the rock musicals, Hair represents a new element in musical
theatre entertainment. |
|