HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End *BUT Is Far From It. — Page 3

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#51

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/12/10 at 11:06am

I saw Hair in NY and didn't like it at all. Swenson was completely obnoxious, I never warmed to him. Plus whether it was a sound problem or a cast problem but I couldnt make out half of what they were singing.

#52

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/12/10 at 11:09am

I only heard 80% of what was shouted or screamed of it.

#53

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/12/10 at 11:21am

I'm often appalled by how poor the amplification is for musicals in the West End - Legally Blonde, couldn't hear a word when there were more than two people singing! Is this often the case on Broadway as well?

It's not as if it's impossible to do well - in the NT's Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, there was one moment that relied on the audience thinking they're listening to the live orchestra and then it turns out to be a recording, and the quality of the recording and the amplification was so good that the trick completely worked. I know West End theatres don't have the same quality facilities that the NT do, but the audience being able to hear the words should be the absolute minimum.

Updated On: 4/12/10 at 11:21 AM

#54

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/12/10 at 11:28am

^Hmm I've seen Blonde loads and never had a problem except the very first preview.

#55

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/12/10 at 11:43am

"I'd say I'm a pretty keen theatre fan, and Gavin Creel was the only one I'd heard of before Hair. And as pointed out, the only thing he has done in the UK as far as I know is as the first replacement Bert in Mary Poppins. They're selling this show on the fact that it's The Broadway Cast, not on the names or even talents of any individual cast members"

i do not disagree.

"Piper, please don't get me wrong I think it is simply wonderful that you feel this way towards this show and its company. i can almost feel your excitement grow as it gets nearer to the time you see it here in London. "

seems like i will be seeing an entirely different cast as it will be after mid October. (if it is still there) it is also going to be a family thing, so it will be different. and please don't get me wrong. i know exactly what you are saying and do not dispute at all that these cast members are unknown in London. :) - also i agree with you about some of the annoyances. believe it or not.

"it's a dirty little war"

#56

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/12/10 at 11:47am

Hmm I've seen Blonde loads and never had a problem except the very first preview.

It helps a lot if/when you're familiar with the words - I only saw it once, but for the songs I knew, I could mostly hear the words just fine, but in the songs I wasn't familiar with I often couldn't make out what was being sung at all.

#57

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/12/10 at 12:51pm

I wouldn't be surprised if he wipes his hands of this production once the Broadway company have played out their run.

#58

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/12/10 at 1:26pm

^Same!

And the Gielgud would be perfect for Rock of Ages :P

#59

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/12/10 at 4:58pm

I don't mean that in a bad way but he could close it and sell it on a kind of high(ish) season solely with the US cast.
8 months is not a bad run!

#60

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/13/10 at 12:29pm

Awww...I loved this production on Broadway. I always felt Berger was supposed to be rather obnoxious and represent the more extremist side of the hippies, which is partly why Claude remained on the fence and ultimately unconvinced. Berger is supposed to be highly energetic and manic, but not altogether pleasant. He represents the more abrasive and immature sector of the hippie community who are less concerned with the consequences of their idealism and sense of spontaneity. The shading of their community is represented through the various supporting characters with Claude and Berger as opposite endpoints of the spectrum. This point was driven home in the rather redundant cut number, Hippie Life.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#61

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/13/10 at 9:56pm

delete

"it's a dirty little war"

Updated On: 4/13/10 at 09:56 PM

#62

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/14/10 at 6:41pm

I loved every minute of this show. I saw it Monday night and really did enjoy it; I think all of the cast was great and that all the production standards were top-notch. I've always loved the material however, and I completely see why people would dislike it - but personally, loved it! (:

Also I agree with Mister Matt on Berger being a bit more of an "extremist" hippie. However I did love this show a hell of a lot; I was expecting it to be amazing but not as amazing as I thought it was (:

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#63

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/18/10 at 2:55pm

Ive already been to see this production in the west end twice and i see a hell of a lot more trips to come.
Im 22 and this is seriously one of the best shows ive ever seen.
For people to say that Will Swenson plays Berger OTT is a little odd as ive always thought that the character needs the OTT to play against Claudes calmness and insecruity....as ive always seen the 'duo' as very much a gemini style pairing...Berger is all happy go lucky and in your face and doesnt really care if people hate it, whereas Claude would love to be like that but because of his parents, he doesnt know who to please.

For people to ssay that noone went to see Mary Poppins in the uk because of Gavin....ummm well i did...seriously i heard his name(because we were planning a trip at some point to mary poppins) and went onto his site and heard him sing....and well lets just say because of Gavins voice we were booked up the very next day for Mary Poppins.

#64

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/18/10 at 3:01pm

^You've just said that that you only knew of Gavin from Mary Poppins though.

#65

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/18/10 at 3:25pm

yeah and now because of that im seeing HAIR....thats what im saying...youve got to do research if people are coming over from broadway etc....i done my research and now can say that Gavin is one of my favourite actors ever.

#66

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/18/10 at 3:25pm

I think it is important to get 'Hair' in context, this show appeals to two types of people.

1 - People 50+ reliving there youth, who thinks there is nothing wrong with having long hair and wearing socks with sandals and also thinks drinking real ale is cool.

2 - People of any age who just go to perv at a bit of dick or twat, who are in desperate need of seeing a psycho-sexual therapist.

Updated On: 4/18/10 at 03:25 PM

#67

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/18/10 at 3:30pm

or it could be there for normal theatregoers to have a fantastic evening at the theatre and enjoy the show for what it is...im 22 and although my parents reckon i was born in the wrong era and could have been a hippy, was never around in that era, but absolutly love this production for what it is.

#68

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/18/10 at 3:30pm

Unanswerable, simply, unanswerable

#69

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/18/10 at 3:34pm

what do u mean by that?!!!!!!

#70

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/18/10 at 3:49pm

^^I should of added another categories, your parents went to the show, along time ago and you thought this sounds good, done a bit of homework and took a couple of class A's before you went into the Gielgud.

Updated On: 4/18/10 at 03:49 PM

#71

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/18/10 at 3:53pm

my parents werent the ones who wanted to see this show...i was

#72

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/18/10 at 4:03pm

I would say Cat 3 is the Rent/Spring Awakening generation who have become obsessed with Rock musicals (I would put myself in this cat haha!)

#73

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/18/10 at 4:07pm

Cat 4: get a life and stop loving a show because everyone says you have to. Happening far too much these days

Updated On: 4/18/10 at 04:07 PM

#74

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/18/10 at 4:15pm

Heaven forbid people should disagree with the BWW hivemind occasionally!

Saw this last week. It's an absolutely incredible production of a total period piece of a show. Whatever power Hair had as a piece of theatre has been lost to the years and the style of the production - the dialogue makes little sense, the nudity is staged in a rather sentimental manner, and the ending is beautifully staged but doesn't make a huge impact. With that said, I can't think of a better way of staging the show, and the cast is phenomenal. I even didn't mind the audience interaction...

What a score, though. Taken as a piece of theatre, the second act is complete nonsense; a long, pointless trip that's no more illuminating of Claude's psyche than the first act, culminating in a foregone dramatic conclusion. But the music is transporting - shame about the articulation of some of the actors being a little less than crisp.

#75

HAIR. It had better be the BEST Thing in the West End

Posted: 4/18/10 at 7:30pm

ffs, Phantom of London...your generalazing of who you think would like this show is not exactly correct. I know people of many ages who all take different opinions away from it. all good, but see different things. it is relevant now and i think those who actually liked in the 60s are split on this production. perv at it? give me a break

wiggy...i agree that swenson and creel have a great chemistry. i have seen them do things other than HAIR together and it is quite obvious in person they get along and do things outside of HAIR as well. ( i don't need to go on as to how i know this and what i have seen)

"it's a dirty little war"

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