Hair

You can imagine the shock of seeing Hair staged for the first time 50 years ago. All the rules of polite musical theatre themed, G-rated Rodgers and Hammerstein story lines were thrown out the window. In their place was a free-for-all rock-n-roll sex and drug fueled Vietnam War story.

This production brilliantly recreated that sense of shock and liberation. Hugh Sheridan as Berger - like a cat on heat - immediately dived into the crowd, startling his victims in those close to front expensive seats. This was a production that was always going to shake the cobwebs from the audience.

Set on the open platform of the Concert Hall of the Opera House, a sparse scaffold framed the stage, above the rock band.

Scene changes were cleverly achieved through choreography and bold lighting. This was most striking when the lads appeared to jump from a plane into the snake pit of Vietnam. Gorgeous costumes and of course extravagant free flowing locks added to the spectacle.

The musical opens with the catchiest of tunes, “Aquarius”, and ends with the delicious song “Let the Sunshine In”. But not every song in between is quite so compelling and to be frank the first act could do a with a slight haircut.

The Sydney audience is blessed to see the production after a substantial whistle stop tour around the country. The cast are well rusted onto their roles. They are fluid, joyous and in very fine voice.

Matthew Manahan as Claude shone as the young conscript, nailing his songs and providing the most striking final image for the musical. Big juicy performances were also in play from Paulini as Dione and Harris M Turner as Hud.

There are also some great smaller roles in this musical. A special mention to Julian Kuo, who was a scream in drag as anthropologist Margaret Mead.

In the second act the pace quickens as the main players go on a trip that swirls around American history and returns to several of the iconic moments of the Vietnam war.

The opening night audience needed no prompting to leap to their feet at the curtain call in appreciation.  Catch this very short season if you can.

David Spicer

Photographer: Daniel Boud