[Mb-hair] Updating HAIR

[Leo]

I've read all the posts regarding the updating of HAIR and specifically 
those updates associated with the London production and so I figured I'd 
toss in my headset.
Mind you, I was gonna resist the temptation to join in this topic as it's 
obviously a hot button but, as several of you have pointed out, it's only my 
opinion but my opinion is as valid  and real to me as yours is to you. End 
of prologue!
Let's see, I was born in 1949 so I was at a ripe age to experience the 60s. 
Funny thing is I remember doing all these things during that time but 
whenever I try to put them in chronological order it doesn't add up!! Musta 
been the drugs but man I believe the adage, "If you remember the 60s, you 
weren't there." Also, I never had the bread to see the original production 
of HAIR or any of the first run productions. I owned the OBC (when my mom, 
God rest her, heard Sodomy the lp got disposed of! And of course I remember 
the hubbub surrounding HAIR and in particular the mention of full frontal 
nudity for the first time on Broadway. I didn't have the bread cuz I was too 
busy panhandling and selling blood & plasma and weed just to have enough 
money to party on and to share the rent with 13 other freaks. I had no spare 
bucks!
I am another one of those HAIR purists. Oh sure, I can see minor changes or 
decisions such as, "Do I use the movie scene or not?", does Hud really have 
to be male, will I use Hippie Life, etc. But any major changes rip the heart 
and soul out of HAIR for me. A Playstation!! HIVIP tatooed on Woof's chest?! 
And I really didn't like a recent production when they started with Sheila 
in 2005 reading a scrapbook. I understand the concept but I didn't like it. 
No, no, no.
The issues of HAIR are what gives it it's driving force. Peace, love, 
freedom, understanding, sexuality and anti war sentiment are all concepts 
which any generation should and could relate to. And although HAIR is very 
time specific, it still works. No one ever messed with Bye Bye Birdie or 
Grease - 2 other shows which are time specific. Like HAIR, they stand up 
well in the period in which they were written.
Is it a history lesson? I know I certainly educated the Tribe on the 
backdrop of the 60s so they could get the vibe of it.I showed them vintage 
footage of riots, concerts, Viet Nam, and of course a huge dose of music. 
But, in as much as HAIR is a "part" of history, it is the message which is 
timeless. I had a reviewer write a critique of one of our productions and it 
started, "HAIR is a museum piece and belongs in the archives." Right away I 
knew where this cat was coming from. And he went on to say that he didn't 
like the piece when it initially came out. Surprise! Is Shakespeare a museum 
piece?
One final thought, and this is specific to the London production, can you 
imagine being a youngster sitting in the audience watching that production? 
Or a first timer sitting in the audience? What if those people didn't like 
the show at all and believed that THAT was what HAIR was all about! We have 
lost them as HAIR fans. What a travesty that would be. The important thing 
is to keep pumping out productions of HAIR that are thoughful and honest in 
their approach. We must keep that spirit alive and continue to spread the 
groovy revolution among the ages.

PEACE,
Leo