"Hair" Number on the Tony Awards

[fgreene1938]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 5:37pm

Am I the only one who was just a little off-put but that hullabaloo? I found it way over the top, gushy to the point of being maudlin, and I thought that the "Tribe" looked about as much like a group of hippies as the cast of "33 Variations". Worst of all, that stampede into the audience (which is a contrived nightly ordeal) was pushy showbiz razzle dazzle of the worst kind, almost demanding that the audience members ENJOY THE SHOW. Too much.
Updated On: 6/9/09 at 05:37 PM

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 5:45pm

I really liked it, but I agree the part with the audience was a little overkill.

I do agree that they looked more like "modern people dressing like hippies" than actual hippies, though. You know, the kind of clothes you'd see if on a 60's theme day during Homecoming week or something.

Updated On: 6/8/09 at 05:45 PM

[yay_gerb]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 5:47pm

that's the kind of show it is. it's the same way at the Al Hirshfeld every night.

"almost demanding that the audience members ENJOY THE SHOW."

this is true, but to each his own. if you don't want to enjoy the show then don't enjoy it. most people buying tickets to Hair(especailly after seeing the Tonys) will know what they are going to expect from the show.

[Plum]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 5:50pm

The Tribe members did seem a little...clean-cut for a bunch of quasi-homeless hippies when I watched in Central Park, but I loved the show, including the parts when they entered the audience. Their performances are genuine enough to make it work as an expression of joy - especially because when I saw the show I was bouncing in my seat well before the audience interaction bits happened.

The direction on the Tonys could have been better, but that's old news by now.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 5:50pm

That's what I was expecting walking into the Hirschfeld, and yet all those expectations melted away when the performance began. You run a risk of losing so much when you take a performance out of its natural element and place it, sans context, somewhere else.

On the other hand, pull out the part of the sentence about the tribe and "33 Variations," and fgreene is exactly describing my reaction to the Liza performance.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 5:55pm

I have always thought that these hippies were too clean...but a small and forgettable criticism in an otherwise wonderful show.

At the Hirschfeld they make no bones that they acknowledge the audience. Usually I hate audience interactions, but somehow this works for me.

I guess I partake in the kool aid!! It's part of the experience. If you don't like it, go see something else. More availability for me!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 6:04pm

James Gandolfini did not seem to smile a lot throughout the Tonys. Until Gavin came dancing in his face. Lol.

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 6:47pm

Yes. Yes, you were.

[Satine36]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 1:15am

I completely agree with the OP. How many times can you run into the audience and harass them without it getting old? I found the whole thing completely pretentious. But then again..I find the whole show pretentious.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 1:23am

I loved the interaction so much, but I'm also a huge Rocky Horror fan so I think that could explain some of it.
I can't stop watching the moment when the entire group in the opening join the HAIR cast! It's so fun to pick out who is dancing with who. My favorite - Allison and Raul. A perfect combination for me :)

[I<3bway]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 1:31am

Aww, I really liked the Hair number.


And for some reason, it makes me want to see Anne Hathaway in a remake of the movie.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 1:33am

Best performance of the night by far.

Best show of the season.

Best show on Broadway.

I just love this show!

[lexlex]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 1:36am

I thought it was the best part of the show! It made me want to see HAIR even more.

[Plum]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 2:25am

Exactly what pretensions do you see in a song about hair? I'm genuinely curious.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 6:13am

As much as I enjoy the audience interaction....I have to admit: I do think it's a little overused in the production. (But my only criticism of the show!)

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 9:32am

I would love to know why anyone thinks the audience interaction is "pretentious?" I saw the word a lot when someone described SPRING AWAKENING and the microphones and I guess I can understand that. But the whole concept of HAIR as the the "hippies" have taken over the theatre and they're running rampant through it. I do, however, agree that they all might be a little too clean to be a haggle of hippi. But their commitment to their characters and to the show at large is so wonderful that any of these silly flaws are easily overlooked. For me, anyway.

I don't think the idea of the audience interaction worked as well at RCMH just because it's so damn big. It works to great effect at the Hirschfeld because everyone's evenly dispersed. But I liked the performance quite a bit.

[fgreene1938]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 9:58am

FYI

As the intiator of this thread, I just wanted to point out that I didn't call the "Hair" number "pretentious", a poster to this thread did...and everyone's entitled to her or his opinion.

And to FindingNamo: Your comment "On the other hand, pull out the part of the sentence about the tribe and '33 Variations' and fgreene is exactly describing my reaction to the Liza performance" made me laugh out loud (and I think Liza's a hoot).

[fbueller]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 10:22am

Why didn't the cast perform the nude scene live? This would have greatly increased the ratings.

And everyone could definitely make the final decision about whether or not the cast is clean cut.

[blueroses]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 10:24am

I thought it was exhilarating...the best number of the night by far. I can't wait to see HAIR again.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/9/09 at 10:31am

"How many times can you run into the audience and harass them without it getting old?"

Well, each night at the theater they are performing for a different audience, so it does not really get old.

I love this show and am happy it won Best Musical Revival.

[logan0215]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 2:19am

I love how people expect them to be literally grungy and dirty for the sake of authenticity.

This group of Broadway actors seems to be embodying the message that Hair offers and are the real deal. For example: they took their own personal time in between shows on a Sunday to come and perform and fight for Marriage Equality.

And P.S




Are they grungy enough for you?

Because that's the original cast of Hair...

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 4:38am

The girl who plays "Crissy" is so over the top with her mannerisms. She needs to tone it down...so annoying to watch. She does it every time she performs.

Oh wow and is that Melba Moore and Paul ("Last Dance/Main Event") Jbara in the first vintage HAIR pic? Updated On: 6/10/09 at 04:38 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 5:49am

I love Chrissy. I find it hard NOT to watch her....and honestly, if you need to "accept" her actions -- the character is probably stoned...and being stone will make an individual become mannered. I totally buy it.


Thanks for the reminder photo...they look pretty clean. But I wouldnt suggest the actors don't bathe but clothes that didn't look quite as pristine wouldn't hurt.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 7:18am

I prefer my hippies showered, thank you very much. I remember my older. unshowered hippie-cousins from when i was an adolescent in the late 60s, and they stank.

Literally.

They only thing that covered their unpleasant body odor was the lingering scent of marijuana on their unlaundered clothes, from which all around would get contact highs.

If that's the experience you crave, go hang with some homeless people and sing Aquarius with them.

How many times can you run into the audience and harass them without it getting old?

If it means I can get Will Swenson's crotch in my face and Gavin Creel's ass in my lap...?

May it run as long as they original did.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 9:17am

I too think it's the most exciting revival to happen in ages, but that doesn't preclude it from being an odd performance. I thought Will Swenson was a bit too wild, for my taste. I was half afraid he was going to kill someone during his jaunt into the audience. Does his singing get as breathless and labored during the actual show as it appeared to at the Tonys?