“AUDIENCE WARNING: Nudity, Sexuality, Violence, Mature Content, Strong Language, Lengthy Hair, & Dirty Hippies” reads the poster for the UC Follies’ production of Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. This proves to be a fairly accurate preview of the show, giving unsuspecting audiences some insight into what they are about to experience.
Presented by The UC Follies Theatre Company, Hair is as exuberant as it is heartbreaking, a careful juxtaposition of teen angst and socio-political strife. Set in 1968, the production, based on the classic Broadway musical, follows a group of young hippies living a bohemian, carefree life in New York City. Through song, dance, and short monologues, this “tribe” of long-haired flower-children make determined efforts to protest war, accept their sexualities, and fight established social precepts. Although the tribe members advocate peace, love and harmony, they struggle to be taken seriously in their efforts to stage rallies against the Vietnam War draft.
Cast member Aidan Sharpe gives a powerful performance as Claude, the nominal leader of the tribe. Sharpe masterfully displays Claude’s efforts to challenge social norms, please his parents, spearhead the tribe, and advocate free love and peace. His wingman Berger (Emmett O’Reilly) undergoes struggles of his own, especially when it comes to his on-again, off-again girlfriend Shelia (Bronwen Drummond). Madeline Foley, who plays the eccentric, pregnant tribe member Jeanie breaks up the angst and sexual tension with bouts of witty humour and awkward encounters with her crush, Claude.
Yet the most impressive performance of the night was arguably not that of any individual actor, but of the ensemble as a whole. The cast of over 30 actors spent the majority of the three-hour musical in perfect harmony, singing, dancing, playing instruments, and running widely around the stage and arena. Through their expressive and, at times, boisterous interaction with the audience, the actors succeeded in making every member of the audience feel as though they were a member of the eclectic band of hippies.
UC Follies’ production of Hair is no disappointment to fans of the Broadway classic, and it certainly does not shy away from the original play’s depiction of sex, drug-use, and nudity (you might see a full-moon or two). This profanity-laced, unabashedly loud, and compellingly gritty musical is a perfect portrayal of the convoluted, kaleidoscopic state of 1960s youth.
