Hair is the American tribal love-rock musical. I came to know of this musical from the 
original movie with Treat Williams playing Berger. Because I already had an amazing picture in my head, the beginning of this love-rock musical was almost a disappointment for me. The movie has a clear cut story line to follow, and has all the known songs to sing along to such as Aquarius, Let the Sun Shine In, and Hair. The beginning of the May 9th production just seemed to be song after song, and with-in those songs, I knew only a couple. I found throughout the entire musical that the point wasn’t the story line, which ended up being there to my satisfaction, but more about the music and atmosphere.
The costumes were amazing. Being me, I wanted to wear every single outfit I saw up there! Each main character’s singing voice was perfect. Two of the leads were former American Idol contestants. Diana DeGarmo played Sheila, the educated protestor whom everyone loved. Ace Young played the character I came to know and love from the movie, Berger, the hippie who won’t be tied down for anything. The only thing that stood out as off in the entire production was Ace Young’s “over-acting”. I thought that his constant drunk/high acting was a bit over the top. The over-acting, however, didn’t bother me too much and definitely didn’t ruin the show.
The excellence didn’t end at Diana and Ace! Kyle Riabko was amazing in his role as Claude. Claude was a hippie in the tribe, but he was more intellectual than the others. He believed he was from England, and because of this spoke in a “Manchester, England” accent. He was drafted into the war, and throughout the entire story-line was fighting with the choice of whether to go or not. He ended up going and was killed. In contrast to the movie, it wasn’t as emotional, but it was still very moving.
My favorite part of the tribal musical was the actor/audience interaction. The actors came 
off the stage in many of the upbeat songs to dance with the audience members, and to even lie on their laps (like Berger did a few rows ahead of us). They would hand out flowers and “Be-In” fliers to each row and would get everyone excited and in tune with the music. Out in the front row, I saw a man get so excited he was practically out of his seat! At the end of the show, after all the actors took their bows to a standing ovation, they allowed anyone from the audience up on stage to dance with them to “Hair” and “Let the Sun Shine In”. I went up with my mom to my excitement and danced! It was recorded and put online for everyone to see (though you could hardly spot me). Afterwards Diana DeGarmo came up to hug me and my mom and was excited to hear we also had seen her in another Broadway/Off-Broadway production (The Toxic Avenger). Waiting outside the stage doors, I got a cover-full of autographs and even a picture with Diana herself!
Though the music, voices, costumes, and overall atmosphere was amazing, the fact that everyone, including me, could participate blew the performance and experience OVER THE TOP!
HAIR
Al Hirschfeld Theatre
May 9, 2010
Marina B. Nebro
