DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL REVIEW. RATHER, IT'S JUST SOME RANDOM OBSERVATIONS AND MUSINGS.
As it happens, I wish that I could write a full newspaper review of HAIR. I even spotted the press agent at intermission, told him how much I loved the show, and that if I wrote a review, it'd be a rave. In which case, they'd be okay with that, but there was a problem: no press pics. In which case, my thoughts on HAIR will be need to be confined to this blog.
So, how did it work as a concert production? Only a small portion of the Delacorte Stage was used, mostly the front apron. The ten-piece band was placed in a hovel in the back center. The entire cast remained onstage for most of the show, usually sitting to the side during solo songs. There was basically no set. The lighting efforts were effective, but often sloppy. The costumes were great, very colorful 60s wardrobe.
The cast was outstanding, truly. I'm glad Jonathan Groff played Claude, though his wig was a bit too obvious. He brings charm and passion to whatever he does. And I really liked the idea of a connection between HAIR and SPRING AWAKENING, today's popular rock musical. The actors playing Berger and Sheila were fierce, providing awesome performances.
Was there nudity? Like ten seconds at the tail end of Act One - and not everyone got nude. It was pretty much the same thing the Real Theatre Company did in their production of HAIR two weeks ago at Theater Row. If I remember correctly, the Encores! staging had no nudity at all (not surprising, given the average age of their subscribers) and the Actors Fund had an even smaller amount of nudity, added in during the hallucinationatory sequence of Act Two.
The audience, of course, was completely enthusiastic. And why wouldn't it be? Those there either had to pay top dollar ($250-500) for their tix or had to wait only for about seven or eight hours that morning. And at the very end, Oskar Eustis took the stage and introduced original cast members, one of whom was CABARET and PROMISES PROMISES star Jill O'Hara, who was in the original Off-Broadway cast. I could see Eustis during the show having a ball of a time, grinning and stomping his feet like crazy. It may not have been discreet, but he definitely has got enthusiasm.
I am already considering whether I can bag tix for tomorrow night's performance. But more so, I wonder where this concert could lead. To a full production? If no critics are going to write it up, then they don't have the evidence of enthusiastic critics to show off to potential investors. Why not do this as a full production in the park next year. That's probably the best option. With more time, this could be a great production. And for now, it's already compelling musically and absolutely worth seeing.
I enjoyed it so much I even bought a $40 HAIR t-shirt.