Hair
****
New Theatre, Cardiff, Mon 15 Apr
It may be difficult for people to see what all the fuss was about, but Hair, or to give it its full name, Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, was groundbreaking and a cultural phenomenon at the time. Audiences today may not be aghast at the illegal drug-taking, profanity and the infamous group nude scene, but in 1968 that and more certainly caused controversy, though not enough to keep the show from being a huge worldwide hit). Is it an archaic has-been today? Absolutely not says this baby-boomer! Plenty of musicals from bygone eras have relevant, timeless themes that will never die-out, and this is one of them. Donald Trump and the Iraq War are given mentions at the start but that’s as updated as we get with a production that shouldn’t be messed with.
That’s not to say Hair’s 50th Anniversary Production isn’t without problems. Writers/lyricists Gerome Ragni’s and James Rado’s story of a group of young hippy drop-outs who congregate in NYC’s Central Park practising free love and demonstrating against the Vietnam War has always been short on plot.
Oh, but the music by composer Galt MacDermot still remains! We’re introduced with the luminous Aquarius, leading with belter Aiesha Pease’s soulful, rich vocals, playing Dionne. Jake Quickenden as Berger certainly gets our attention by stripping down, clad in a G-string, tattoos and wig. The show-off leader Berger is tailor-made for the reality television personality/former footballer Quickenden, who shows he‘s no slouch in the singing department.
Defiant Hud (played by a fabulous, full-throttle Marcus Collins) recites a litany of racial slurs in Colored Spade and wows in Ain’t Got No too. Jeanie (Alison Arnopp) sweetly delivers warnings of pollution and nuclear power in the prophetic Air while Shelia (Daisy Wood-Davis) sings the plaintive Easy To Be Hard in a lovely voice. And Crissy (Kelly Sweeney) is adorable, telling us about her predicament – pre-internet – with would-be boyfriend Frank Mills. Soprano singer Natalie Green’s work as Cassie was breathtakingly gorgeous. The heart of the show is Claude, who’s torn about burning his draft card and splitting for Canada or serving his country. Poignantly played by Paul Wilkins, he especially shines while confused in the soul-searching Where Do I Go? Hair is a fun ride, but it doesn’t lose sight of the destructive powers that inspired it. The Vietnam War lasted for 20 years and left millions of Vietnamese dead, alongside thousands of casualties from the US and other participants.
It’s a shame a few of the tunes like Black Boys and White Boys weren’t easily decipherable this night because they’re brassy, bold and yummy. The playwrights attempted to tackle racism, religion and civil rights at the to name a few – a series of four songs that try to squeeze a lot in are a confusing mish-mash, and a few of the almost 50 songs could be canned.
But director Jonathan O’ Boyle’s vibrant, exuberant cast shine brightly as their attire, and they all deserve praise for their terrific portrayals. The set (surrounded by neon-coloured ribbons) and costumes by Maeve Black are right on, as are the tree houses the far-out musicians are in. Hair is a Happening, and selfie-obsessed kids could benefit from seeing this. Let Hair wash over you and enjoy a time machine trip back to the 60s when a youth-quake shook the world. It’s the grooviest history lesson you’ll ever get.
Words RHONDA LEE REALI
Hair is at the New Theatre until Sat 20 Apr
Tickets: £40.00-£17.00. Info 029 2087 8889 / www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk