I'm back! I'm tired from a crazy (the good kind of crazy) weekend in New York, but nonetheless, I am back alive!
Here are my thoughts:
*Spoilers*
The show was incredible. I was stunned and still am stunned by how fantastic the show was. There was a certain electricity running throughout the room from the moment the lights dimmed that was absolutely indescribable. There were countless little moments that were so powerful, and I just sat in my seat and was completely overtaken by all that was going around me.
I was in the middle of a cast that was believing every damn word that came out of their mouths, a flawless band, and an audience that was just as into the show as the cast was. The combination of these things created a certain buzz that was impossible to escape and UNBELIEVABLY powerful. There were moments that were so powerful that I just sat in my seat and I was literally shivering from the chills running all throughout my body. Very early on, I could tell that I was apart of something special and unforgettable.
The key phrase of that sentence, "I was apart of something". I didn't just feel like I was sitting in my seat and watching a show, I felt like I was actually apart of it. The show says a lot of powerful things about war, peace, love, sexuality, drugs, and equality. A lot of the things they discuss would be very impacting if someone just read them from a sheet of paper, but when they were discussed by having an incredible cast involving you in the show through interaction and fourth wall breaking, it only upped the power even more. In the last half hour of the show, each number gets more and more intense and I had chills the whole time... and as the show progressed, my chills only intensified even more, and it got to the point where at the end when Claude was lifeless on the american flag, I had my shoulders up, I was shivering, and I could barely move my hands to clap at the end of the number because I was so taken by what I had just witnessed.
I have never walked into a theatre and had a show make me feel the way that HAIR did. To me, HAIR was a reminder of how blind I am. I continuously complain about all of the issues going on in the world.. but I never do anything to fight for what I believe in or to support my cause. ALL of us have the power to power to be the change we want to see if we stand together, even by doing things like going to an equality rally or even going to the friggin' voting booth. Seeing Claude dead on the american flag and watching the cast silently weeping as they walked through the aisle (which I sat a mere 2 seats away from) was a stunning reminder of all the potential I have inside of me to make change that I've repeatedly ignored.
Unfortunately for him, he was very blocked by all that was going on around him. He felt trapped in the middle of what his parents wanted, what his friends wanted, and what *he* wanted. He was so confused by all of this that he didn't even know what he wanted, and he tried to figure it out.... but all he could find out was that humans are too greedy, barbaric, and selfish for humans to be able to live in harmony with each other (as explained in "What a Piece of Work is Man?"). He died before he found his place, and the end of the show was a very tragic beg for hope... and it moved the sh*t out of me. I've seen shows that were touching, but the sentiment wore out in about 15 minutes. It's been a couple of days and the impact this show had on my way of thinking is still very much present within me and it doesn't seem like it will be going away anytime soon.
So since my thoughts were more of a complete love-fest, I figured I would discuss some of the flaws in the afternoon. I personally did not like the trip sequence. I felt that while it was staged and performed to perfection, the writing was very cluky and it didn't actually 'work' for me until "Three-Five-Zero-Zero", and that was partially because of how powerful the cast and direction made it. I also thought that Vanessa as Crissy was not bad, but she was not all that great either. She was just... adequite, nothing else. I felt the same way about the actress who played the mother, as well. Not terrible... but not up to par with the rest of the cast. While these things didn't help the show, they hardly took away from the overall experience I had in that theatre.
I liked the new tribe members! They were all very into the show and they were extremely professional. My personal favorite was Heath Calvert, he had a LOT of presence and it was very thrilling. There was a brief moment in the song "HAIR" where he totally stole the song from Will & Paris just by dancing around. OF COURSE I loved Krystal, and she was exactly like I remembered her. A charming, beautiful performer with a gorgeous voice. I hope that she'll get the chance to grow in a big role someday.
This is probably what everyone wants to hear. How did I like Paris? I LOVED him. He had a lovely, lovely voice and he sold the character perfectly. Part of the reason why I saw Claude the way I discussed in my review was because of the way he portrayed him. I REALLY felt for his character and he brought a lot of depth to the role. Oh, and did I mention? He ACTUALLY has chemistry with the other cast members, which seems to be impossible to find in an understudy these days! I definitely don't feel like I lost out on anything because Gavin was out.
I did stagedoor, and most of the cast came out. I was extremely nervous and very awkward... and the cast members (as well as the other stagedoor-ers) probably thought I was incredibly strange because I was saying a bunch of things that made absolutely no sense, but I was just so nervous! They were all very nice and ya know what? I'm sure there have been MANY people that were A LOT weirder than I was. If any of you think you saw me, all I can say is... YIKES. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M NORMALLY LIKE!
"There's nothing good on. The media hates Christmas. The media loves vampires, though. Maybe they will show a Twilight Christmas."
-Danmeg's 10 year old son.
Updated On: 10/12/09 at 06:18 PM
Last night was my walk on, and was it an experience! The entire cast were so supportive and sweet to me! I got to hang out backstage while they did my hair and costume. Kober hung out a bit while we were doing a little 'rehearsal' for what I was to do in 'Electric Blues'. Josh, Jay and Ato made a point to introduce themselves to me when they crossed the stage. Heath told me I should steal my beads as a souvenir. Gavin gave me a hug before I went on saying, "Don't be nervous. We're all just sweaty, happy hippies!" Before everyone went out for the top of Act 2, Darius busted out into song for me and everyone chimed in, making the tech people shush them! In which Darius replied, "Like they don't know we're back here." LOL Kober said he was going to give me a shout out in the beginning of EB, but I couldn't hear. All I have to say is that Cassie Levy is the loveliest person alive. She hugged me about 5 times before I went on and made her way over to dance with me a bit. Lauren Elder and Krystal were my "guides". They danced with me, as did Bryce. While I stage doored after the show, everyone came up to me and gave me a hug and said I did wonderfully. It was amazing. 
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