Let ‘Hair’ shine in

By Bill Greenwood

Even before the cast belted out the first few notes of “Aquarius,” it was obvious that this show would be very different than anything recently performed on the Lawrenceville campus. That impression couldn’t have been truer, as actors dressed in full 1960s regalia emerged from the back of the Yvonne Theater, dancing and interacting with the audience as they made their way to the stage. Such unconventional actions were not unexpected, though. After all, this was a performance of the quintessential nonconformist musical, Hair, which proved, once again, that the Fine Arts Department really knows how to put on a show.

The production focuses on a “tribe” of “flower children,” led by Berger (junior Eddie Egan), trying to survive in 1960s America. As racism and the Vietnam War surround them, the tribe members stay afloat on a diet of love, drugs and fun until Claude (junior Danny Lane) receives his draft notice and must decide whether or not to fight. This decision frames the musical’s plot and acts as the catalyst for many of its more dramatic scenes.

Hair’s greatest success was its ability to involve the audience, transporting it into the world of the ’60s. The actors never broke character, even during the 10-minute intermission during which several cast members pulled theater-goers out of their chairs for an impromptu slow dance. The cast often addressed the audience directly, and several scenes took place either in the theater aisles or in the midst of the audience itself. The actors were able to obliterate the “fourth wall” between the stage and seats and make the production a truly interactive affair.

While the entire cast did an excellent job, Lane and junior David Yashin provided standout performances. Lane nailed Claude’s conflict regarding his draft card, communicating the character’s struggle in ways both blatant (the powerful acid-trip scene) and subtle (facial expressions and acting style). The performance gave Hair its heart and anchored a show that otherwise could have turned into chaos.

Yashin provided comic relief as Woof, a hippie with no regard for the traditional rules of theater. Beginning the show by climbing over the audience’s chairs, flirting with female attendees as he went, Yashin violated every one of the crowd’s expectations. His rendition of “Sodomy,” performed in the middle of the theater directly in front of a visibly startled audience member, was enough to shock viewers out of their modern-day stuffiness, making them more receptive to the ideas presented in the performance.

The music, however, was the real star of the show. With live band accompaniment, the cast of Hair deftly wrapped its musical muscle around numbers such as “Good Morning Starshine” and “The Flesh Failures (Let the Sun Shine In).” While the vocal performances were usually flawless, there were moments in which individual singers sang too softly during non-group numbers, making it difficult to hear them. But this was not a widespread problem, and the principle characters all nailed their respective solos.

All in all, Hair is an incredibly enjoyable experience that also addresses issues of relevance today. Students and off-campus visitors should make every effort to catch this play before its run comes to an end this weekend. Fight the man! Go see Hair.