HAIR
New Theatre, Cardiff. Mon 15-Sat 20 Apr
Before Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease or Rent, there was Hair, the first big rock musical. Actors James Rado and Gerome Ragni enlisted composer Galt MacDermot to set their words to music. It premiered off-Broadway in 1967 and hit Broadway proper the next year. The world was on fire, and so was Hair.
An immediate hit with the youth that generation, it had society matrons and parents reaching for the smelling salts. Not only did it have taboo-busting interracial, bi and gay free love as well as drug use, the musical stood against against materialism, monogamy, racism, pollution and the Vietnam War. While the nude scene wouldn’t cause any eyelash-batting today, back then it was groundbreaking. The show was the springboard for many careers including that of Diane Keaton (who declined to undress and collect her $50 bonus). Subsequently winning a Tony Award, Hair went on to tour worldwide; Elaine Paige and Tim Curry were in the original West End cast. Let’s not forget the fantastic tunes – Aquarius, Let The Sunshine In, I Got Life and Good Morning Starshine to name a few. It’s not a museum piece; the message is still relevant as it hits up Cardiff this month. If the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter is aligning with Mars, then this is the dawning of Hair – 50+ and continuing to blaze.
Tickets: £17-£40. Info: 029 2087 8889 / www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk
words Rhonda Lee Reali