Hair

Synopsis

The year is 1967, and the Vietnam War is at its height. In New York City, a tribe of hippies rails against the establishment, protesting intolerance, brutality, and the dehumanization of society. When Claude, one of their own, gets drafted, he must make a decision about what values are worth fighting for. Songs include ‘Aquarius’, ‘Good Morning Starshine’, ‘Let the Sunshine In’

Our Review:

Michael Coveney - 15 April 2010

Hair at the Gielgud is a wonderfully witty match of production and venue, with the portrait of the great actor, bald as a coot, beaming benevolently over the punters in search of the summer of love and long locks in Greenwich Village in 1967.

The “older generation” is on stage, too, in the shape of Claude’s parents, the army officer and Abraham Lincoln, who, needless to say, gets shot.

So it’s no surprise that the Broadway cast - the first time an entire musical theatre personnel has been transported, unaltered, over the Atlantic - is doubly keen to grab the young spliff-friendly vote: “I’d like to sit up there with you guys,” shouts Will Swenson’s charismatic Berger, “you’re higher than anyone down here!”

It’s a great virtue of Diane Paulus’ totally engaging Public Theater production that the innocence and unbridled high spirits of the tribe – sharing their love, peace and happiness around like a box of chocolates – are not tainted with cynicism...

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Latest User Review

Joshua Luke - 30 July 2010:

The negative comments on here almost put me off going and im so glad i still went because it is without a doubt the most uplifting peice of theatre and art (yes it is art despite what others may think) i have seen in years. the peice really moved me much more than i expected it is a simple show with simple yet strong meaning. the cast were fantastic and i really felt for the characters. the show does not require scene changes or a fancy set etc.. it is a peice which works well on its own. i will certainly be going back before the show ends its run and reccomend it to anyone absolutely fantastic and i thoroughly enjoyed the ending with everyone being involved i loved it. absolutely amazing....

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