The Age of Aquarius is alive and well in Bobdirex’s production of Hair, now at the Athenaeum. The “American tribal love-rock musical” first took the stage in 1968, and its music has never really left the consciousness of Baby Boomers and every generation after them. Veteran director Bob Harbin and a tight, talented cast have managed to stage this well-loved musical and make it relevant in our Age of Skepticism.
The “tribe” is a multicultural group of hippies gifted with both innocence and experience. Claude (Anthony Snitker) is torn between his countercultural ideals and the practical implications of burning his draft card. Berger (Lincoln Slentz) is fully committed to sex, drugs, and rock and roll and taking advantage of Sheila (Claire Wilcher) who is hung up on him. Claude ends up making a difficult decision, and paying the ultimate price. Though the story line of Hair is thin, the reason people see the show is for the exceptional music (and the minute of nudity at the end of the first half).
Harbin finds the best voices around and lets them loose on solos, such as the haunting “Easy to Be Hard” sung by Wilcher, the quasi-operatic “My Conviction” sung by Mead (Craig Underwood), and “Where Do I Go” by Claude. The tribe, which acts as a living, sensuous chorus, is outstanding throughout, from the opening “Aquarius” through the emotionally intense “Flesh Failures/Let the Sun Shine In” finale.
Shocking for its time, the brief nudity in this production is almost unnoticeable, overshadowed by clever lighting and Claude’s “Where Do I Go” performance. In fact, the show was banned from the Murat across the street in 1970 because it violated a city ordinance. The times have certainly changed; however, the show contains mature themes and is for mature audiences only.
There’s only one more weekend to see this show; July 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and July 20 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 with discounts for seniors or groups of 20 or nore. Call 280-0825 to reserve tickets, or go online at http://bobdirex.com/ to order. Shows have been very well attended, so make reservations to ensure you can get in.