Considered one of America’s most influential musicals, the musical, “Hair,” resonates as strongly today as it did when it first hit the stage in 1967. With songs that have been ingrained into pop culture since its inception—including Good Morning Starshine, Aquarius and Let The Sunshine In—Hair turns the 1960s on its head as juxtaposes the conflict of war during a sexual revolution; not too different from the conflicts of war in the Middle East and a reformation around gender and sexual equity today.
Hair tells an enthralling story through its songs about war protests and peace demonstrations, drug use, and free love. It tells stories of hippies, young men sent to fight in Vietnam, and conservative parents; all told with humor. In fact, despite the morose tone a musical about being drafted into war may imply, the careful and quirky interjection of humor keeps the story light on its feet.
Needless to say, I was blown away. It was unlike anything I have ever seen before, and I’m so glad I got to experience it here in San Diego, at The Old Globes’ Lowell Davies Festival Theatre outdoor stage. The outdoor setting transported the audience to another world, in a way an indoor theatre simply can’t.
This was my third time seeing some form of the musical “Hair.” One of those times being the National Tour of the show in Dallas, Texas at the AT&T Performing Arts Center and the other being right here in San Diego at Cygnet Theater in Old Town’s the reading of the show.
The cast for The Old Globes’ production of Hair was superb. The vocal talent on display was some of the best that I have ever heard…anywhere! The three core characters of the show are played by seasoned talent and it shows.
The Christ-like character of Claude is played by Tyler Hardwick who most recently was a part of the National Tour of “Once on This Island.” The vocals and emotion that he displayed with a character who is coming to terms with the gravity of his future, one that is clouded by the prospects of war, weighs heavy as the story builds and helps the audience connect to those life decisions.
The charismatic class clown of the group, Berger, is played by Andrew Polec whose high-energy irreverence will have you laughing time after time. From beginning to end you won’t be able to take your eyes off of him. A perfect casting for a role that helps keep levity in a show that covers such heavy topics.
Rounding out the trio is Storm Lever in the role of Sheila, last seen in San Diego at La Jolla Playhouse’s “Fly.” She delivers a calm yet gentle touch, balancing out the likes of Hardwick and Polec.
One of the things I loved most about the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre outdoor stage is that there simply isn’t a bad seat! That’s especially true as the cast makes use of all parts of the theater, from the stage to the aisles to even the garden space behind the stage. Unfortunately, COVID protocols meant there aren’t as many audience interactions as there normally is during a production of Hair but nonetheless the intimate setting was perfect.
Director James Vásquez while being faithful to the original work does presents a group of characters that seem way more diverse and more like the America of today. I think one of the takeaways from this musical is that everything these characters experience whether war or social issues rings true today just as though the show is a modern-day story.
‘Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical’
When: Tuesdays through Saturdays, through Oct. 3; performances start at 8 p.m. now through Sept. 11, and at 7 p.m. Sept 12 through Oct. 3.
Where: Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego
Tickets: $37 and up
Phone: (619) 234-5623
Online: theoldglobe.org
