Hair Ending Question ***Spoiler***

[DANAMGILL]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 8:37pm

I'm wondering if someone could tell me how Hair ends? In the movie (I know, it's foolish to make the comparison) Berger dies. Did Berger take Claude's place or something?

In the current revival Claude dies, correct? If so, how do they tell the audience that Claude has died? How is it staged?

Thanks in advance!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 8:39pm

As the cast leaves the stage, choruses of "Let the Sunshine In" echoing as they walk up the aisles, a square spotlight shines on Claude, laying flat on an American flag in full Army uniform and the light fades.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 8:40pm

In the movie, Berger does indeed take Claude's place and dies.

In the musical, Claude makes the decision to go and is shot (this occurs during the "Ain't Go No" reprise near the end). He's lifted up by the Tribe and physically reels with each "shot" (a drum strike). He then goes offstage, and is seen again shortly thereafter in an Army uniform. The cast doesn't acknowledge him, he's invisible to them. "Flesh Failures" starts. The cast forms a cluster in front of him, obscuring him from the audience. At the end of "Let the Sun Shine In", they move off-stage, showing a clearly deceased Claude on an American flag.

[DANAMGILL]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 8:42pm

Ahhh...so that's why in some photos Creel is seen in hippie garb but with short hair. I assume he joins them in the final number?

Thank you for your answer. Does this reveal last a long time and do they dwell on it?

[Kad]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 8:42pm

It's the closing tableaux of the show, just Claude on the American flag with snow falling.

During the curtain call, Claude quickly changes back into his hippie garb and then the two "encores" begin.

Updated On: 6/11/09 at 08:42 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 8:43pm

It's heartbreaking.

[sgv123]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 8:43pm

That is the final number...he comes back for curtain call with his hippie clothes back on.

That final scene is extremely heartbreaking and I cry everytime.

[DANAMGILL]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 8:44pm

I'm surprised the director or producer of the movie would be so bold to change the ending of this play. Any idea how the original producers/writers felt about that?

Thank you for your help!

[DANAMGILL]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 8:45pm

That's why I'm so hesitant to go. I can't take scenes like that and it does appear so heartbreaking. Maybe that's because Creel seems so endearing in the role.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 8:45pm

The writers of the musical loathe the movie; they do not even consider a movie of HAIR has been made.

Edit:
It is an extremely heartbreaking finale. HOWEVER, what happens after that is so joyous and uplifting you'll soon forget feeling any sadness.

Updated On: 6/11/09 at 08:45 PM

[heo1128]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 8:54pm

I went in, expecting to see the movie on stage, and was pleasantly surprised. While I sort of kept waiting for the plot to begin, I think the stage show is so much more poignant and moving.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 9:03pm

The movie changed MANY things. While I appreciated some of the performances.....I hated the movie.


Hair is a beautiful and meaningful few hours in the audience.

[singer73192]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 9:03pm

I get chills every time Gavin is left on stage laying on the flag with the falling snow. Especially with the echos of 'Let the Sunshine Is."

I detest when people start clapping along with that scene. I realize that some people just go to the show knowing that song and that they want to "enjoy" it, but it is so intense that I am always shocked by the people who start to clap and sing along.

That's what the encore is for. (But people don't know it's coming)

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 11:09pm

"It is an extremely heartbreaking finale. HOWEVER, what happens after that is so joyous and uplifting you'll soon forget feeling any sadness."

Seriously? If that were true, I would declare this production a failure. It's not.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 11:21pm

I don't feel joyous when I leave the theatre, more so a part of the tribe, the human tribe. A part of the plea to Let the Sun Shine!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 11:33pm

Yep.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 12:09am

I also disagree that you quickly forget about the ending, actually, I thought about the whole thing walking my way back to where I was staying. It's really hard to shake it off.
I think Creel does such a great job singing the finale and the whole cast really gets into the moment. Caissie Levy and Will Swenson do a wonderful job too, their screams at the end (Levy's "Claude!" for example), seeing them run around the stage, it's so heartbreaking. I had no idea how the show ended, in fact, since it's so energetic and joyous in many ways I thought I was in for a happy ending, and then seeing the snow fall, Creel in his uniform, the actors looking for him...my eyes watered and I really found it to be such a chilling moment. Even after the fun and exciting curtain call, I was quite affected by the ending of the actual piece. It's magnificent. Props to Diane Paulus who should have won the Tony for directing this revival, the ending is one of her best moments in the show.
Singer, I agree with you. I couldn't clap. I was just too shocked by the whole moment. It's a priceless theater moment, and one of the reasons the show won the Tony.

[Steve2]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 4:15am

"Props to Diane Paulus who should have won the Tony for directing this revival"

Agreed!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 4:32am

I agree with Diane Paulus deserving the Tony. She's coming to Boston to take over as Artistic Director of American Repertory Theater (ART). Very excited about what she will bring.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 10:37am

While on the subject, I just wanna give so much credit to the cast for contributing to the heartbreaking ending. The first time I saw the show, I was in the front show, and to see them so visibly upset and crying is what got to me more than anything else.