Greater Lansing Ubiquitous Theatre
  • Announcements
  • Events Calendar
  • Auditions
    • Audition Calendar
  • Reviews
  • Theatres
  • About the G.L.U.T.
    • E-mail List
    • Contact

Review: HAIR (MSU)

4/19/2015

0 Comments

 
HAIR - America’s Tribal Love-Rock Musical is tripping out at MSU’s Pasant Stage inside Wharton Center. 

It’s hard to write about this one, because there are so many layers… HAIR was the “soundtrack of my youth”; I had the whole album memorized. I saw it at LCC in the early 80’s and was appalled that I had become one of “them”: a grownup with kids. I remember being touched by anti-war aspect of the MSU version about 13 years ago; I seem to remember a funereal sequence, that was missing in the current production. Tonight, I’m confusing all of this… with a disillusionment built over time. The “victory” of getting rid of the draft has made it easier to wage perpetual war, without the protest generated by obligating every young man to serve, or scramble for some kind of deferment. 

I believe this is the “revival” version of HAIR (2009), since there were a couple songs to which I did not know all the words. It was a little difficult to understand the words, too, due to the untamed nature of the music/singers. This version is energetic, “in your face” and seemed to me less “innocent” than the previous version. It’s always been a chaotic piece, raising issues of anti-war, free love, sex, drugs, enlightenment, self discovery, freedom, and brave hopes/illusions of the possibility of an “Age of Aquarius” complete with “harmony and understanding, sympathy and trust abounding, no more falsehoods or derision, golden living dreams of vision, mystic crystal revelation and the mind’s true liberation…” (I did that all from memory; aren’t you impressed?)

The costuming will take you back with some fun, festive and full-on hippie attire. The infamous MSU “media” light effects (Shannon Schweitzer) were appropriately psychedelic and trippy, There is, of course, the nude scene, tastefully done — and a good amount of “free love” simulation that could also offend some. It manages to be both new and old, inspiring and depressing… I realize my own “baggage” may color this opinion, and encourage everyone to experience it in their own way.
HAIR continues:

*Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 2:00pm
Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 7:30pm
**Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 7:30pm
Friday, April 24, 2015 at 8:00pm
Friday, April 24, 2015 at 11:59pm (Midnight Show)
Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 8:00pm
Sunday, April 26, 2015 at 2:00pm

* Director Pre-Show Discussion Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 1:15 PM
** Post-Show Discussion on Thursday, April 23, 2015 (Following the Performance)

Tickets are available from the Wharton Center Box Office, 1.800.WHARTON, whartoncenter.com

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Reviews

    Read more about Jane and the creation of the G.L.U.T. on the "About G.L.U.T." page.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    All Of Us Express Children's Theatre
    All-of-Us Express Children's Theatre
    Blue Light Players
    Grand Ledge HS
    Homegrown Productions
    Ixion Ensemble
    LCC Dept. Of Theatre
    Mid Michigan Family Theatre
    MSU Dept. Of Theatre
    MSU Summer Circle
    MSU Summer Circle Theatre
    MSU Summer Circle Theatre
    Okemos HS
    Over The Ledge
    Owosso Community Players
    Peppermint Creek Theatre
    Peppermint Creek Theatre
    Renegade Theatre Festival
    Riverwalk Theatre
    Riverwalk Theatre
    Starlight Dinner Theatre
    The Studio Performing Arts Center
    Wharton Center (MSU)
    Williamston Theatre

    Post Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.