Hair

SYNOPSIS

Hair

Back in the 1960s, when rebellion against the system was in full swing and the youth chanted messages of peace and love, a show emerged on Broadway that would become an international phenomenon, winning admirers worldwide and even introducing two talented individuals behind a famous British show.

Welcome to “Hair”, soon to be staged at the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End, where it will hope to emulate its recent revival on Broadway - a location that has seen it run strong since March 2009. It will be a great opportunity to witness a musical production that has found great success in London in the past, with its original run at the Shaftesbury Theatre even managing to surpass the US original.

A story of love, peace and freedom, “Hair” takes audiences back to 1967 – a time of protest and rebellion. The Vietnam War is in full swing and unease is rippling through the establishment as hippies across America stand up against brutality, inhumane society and intolerance, with the show following a particular tribe of hippies as they face moral dilemmas. The events are set in motion as the character of Claude (who it currently portrayed by Gavin Creel on the other side of the Atlantic) is drafted to fight in the ongoing battle overseas. It forces him to renegotiate the values he holds dear to him; to make decisions concerning which set of values he should be fighting for.

But the show is a musical and so it features some well known favourites, such as “Good Morning Starshine”, “Aquarius”, “I Believe in Love”, “Three-Five-Zero-Zero”, and “Let The Sunshine In”.

The current production of the show brings anti-war discontent to the modern age, with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq being modern day equivalents, making the show as relevant as it has ever been. This is perhaps the reason the show has found success once more after numerous attempts at a revival in the 1970s failed to find an audience.

This is despite its initial appearances on the stage featuring all star casts. When it first emerged on Broadway in 1968 (following an off-Broadway run the year before), it featured the likes of Diane Keaton, Ben Vereen and Ronnie Dyson in leading roles. Then, when it opened in the West End, the UK show had a cast to match with Elaine Paige, Richard O’Brien and Tim Curry. The latter combination sowed the seeds for the hit musical “The Rocky Horror Show” with the bringing together of O’Brien and Curry.

“Hair” will make its anticipated appearance at the Gielgud Theatre from Wednesday 14th April 2010 (previews from Thursday 1st April 2010).