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'Hair' not as dated as you might think

Ann Arbor Civic Theatre stages 1960s counterculture musical

Sunday, June 03, 2007
BY JENN MCKEE
News Arts Writer

Whenever you're involved with a production of the '60s-era, trippy, hippie musical "Hair'' - now being staged by the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre - you get the same question: Do you get naked?

"I think we have one bare butt, but otherwise, that's it,'' said cast member Katie Hoeg.

Yet when "Hair'' premiered off-Broadway in 1967, its use of male and female nudity at the end of the first act was one of several things that made the show controversial. It pushed political buttons, too, of course, critiquing America's involvement in Vietnam by depicting the struggle a young man named Claude faces when he's drafted.

"Claude goes through an amazingly difficult journey,'' said Sam Pazicni, who plays the role. "He thinks about things a little bit more, I think, than everybody else does, and that causes him to reflect on the message of the hippie movement, and actually consider his obligation to the country at that time - which was to just accept the draft, and to just go ahead and fight for this country.

"And so he's torn very much between, 'Do I go against something that I actually do believe is wrong? Or do I fulfill my obligation?'''

Claude's additionally pulled between his family and his tribe of hippie friends - among them Sheila, a young student protester.

Hoeg, who plays Sheila, hadn't previously been familiar with "Hair'' and was shocked at how little dialogue the show's book contained. "It's been a challenge to try and develop any kind of character, because it all has to come through the music,'' said Hoeg. "I think Sheila's strong on the outside, but she has a lot of trouble with guys. She's just one of those people ... who is so feminist ... but at the same time, she's in a horrible relationship. She can't stand up for herself, but she can stand up for everyone else.''

The script offered Hoeg and her castmates even more challenges by way of a second act that unfolds as an acid trip. If this convention places the show outside of the mainstream, its roots provide a sound reason for the disjunct.

"It was intended originally to be a concept show ... and not necessarily something that would be mass produced with musical theater actors,'' said musical director Brian Buckner. "When they originally cast the show, they purposely did not use Broadway actors. They honed a certain sound with actual rock singers and people who were members of the hippie culture.''

Yet "Hair'' was one of the last Broadway shows to land several songs on the radio and music charts. Tunes like "Aquarius,'' "Good Morning Starshine,'' and "Let the Sunshine In'' are still culturally pervasive today, and to emphasize the timelessness of the show's messages, A2CT's production will be done with no scenic backdrop and few props.

So while some theatergoers might worry that "Hair'' is now hopelessly dated, Pazicni believes the show to be utterly timely.

"There's teenage angst, there's anger for what a government is doing, there are issues of stereotyping, there are issues of segregation, and there are issues of marginalization,'' said Pazicni. "It's absolutely amazing that we think we've progressed so far since that time, when really, when you boil everything down, it's all still right there.''

Jenn McKee can be reached at 734-994-6841 or jmckee@annarbornews.com.