HAIR

HAIR the musical first arrived on the American scene in 1967, the “summer of love”.

But this era of peace-and-love hippies was also a turbulent one featuring the fight for civil rights, the drug culture, the Vietnam war, and young people breaking out of hitherto accepted social norms.

The visible mark of this rebellion was for young men to grow their hair as long as possible; and for black youth to wear their natural, unstraightened hair in big proud Afro hairstyles.

Writer Gerome Ragni and lyricist James Radio melded all these elements into HAIR’s story, while Galt McDermott’s music would produce iconic hits such as Aquarius and Good Morning Starshine.

HAIR, now a period piece, is about a bunch of young people, passionate for freedom and a better world, living together in Central Park and protesting the war, pollution and social injustice.

Director Damian Thorne, costume designer Philip Hausman and choreographer Nicola Morrison have stepped partially outside of the period model, introducing hip-hop and contemporary dance; echoes of Prince and other modern artists; a “Chernobyl Punk Hippy” look for the cast, with accompanying wigs; references to Donald Trump; back-projected footage of New Zealand protest marches and, at one point, a selfie photo of the Tribe.

Sometimes this works well, at other times it doesn’t quite fit.

The ideal of breaking down walls at the start of the show is a good one, but in practice it holds the action up for much too long.

However, the talent on display is never in doubt and the energy and verve of the young dancers and singers is never-flagging, with a switch into high gear in the second half of the show.

Principals Tyrell Beck as conflicted hero Claude, Bex Palmer as Berger, Kate Petherick as pregnant Jeanie and Ashleigh Blummont as Sheila deliver fine performances, ably supported by the large cast.

Mike Whitton’s solo as ‘Margaret Mead’ was the comedic hit of opening night.

After 49 years, HAIR is no longer the shocker it once was, but is still a reminder of being young, hungry and passionate for a better world.