is hair worth the money?

[sam2009]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:38pm

hey everybody,

i'm looking to see an old play redone and i was thinking of hair. has anyone seen this version? is it worth it? also, what age would be appropriate for that, theres full nudity right? (i cant believe sweet allison case is gonna be all fully naked lol, feels like just yesterday she was nemo right?)

ok any advice / reviews / links to reviews.. would be much appreciated.

[sgv123]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:41pm

It is def. worth the money. It is better now then when it was in the park. There is full nudity, so I would suggest 13 or older, but I have seen kids in there... 5-10 year olds. It only lasts about 30 seconds and it is kind of dark, so it is not that bad. It is really your call I guess. Check out the love thread for reviews.
Updated On: 3/30/09 at 04:41 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:41pm

It's by far the best revival of the year. It's fantastic.

Official reviews come out tomorrow, but my review is linked below.

The nudity is done in shadows and very tastefully. It's really not bad at all.

My review... Updated On: 3/30/09 at 04:41 PM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:53pm

Im dying to see it! Such an uplifting show.

[qsc123]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:54pm

^ i would dispute the one who said its shadowy, im gay but i have a straight friend who went, and belive me all he talked about is how allison case is in a play called hair, about people who are supposed to be hippies, but shes shaved. if its bright enough to see that, then its pretty bright in there. although they were up front so who knows.
Updated On: 3/30/09 at 04:54 PM

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 5:18pm

Shadowy or not, the nudity is tastefully done in that it isn't in a sexual nature.

The show is worth every penny you spend. One of the greatest theatrical experiences I have ever had. Truly. Go see it ASAP.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 5:19pm

Is it worth it? In 50 words or less, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 5:20pm

Yes, yes, yes. It's one of the best things I've seen in a long time. I would watch it every day if I could.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 5:24pm

I wouldn't see HAIR again even if I got a comp ticket. It isn't worth spending a dime on. The show is dated and extremely dull (especially Act 2). Go see WEST SIDE STORY instead.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 5:33pm

Yes, see WEST SIDE STORY and be disappointed and bored crapless!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 5:34pm

I've seen WEST SIDE STORY three times so far and was neither disappointed nor bored. The show is wonderful.

...back to the topic at hand...is HAIR worth the money? No!

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 5:36pm

Dull? did we see the same show?


I would say it's absolutely worth the money!

The nudity is done very tastefully, but I would still say the show would be better for 13 and over. Your call, though.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 5:48pm

I saw the first Sunday evening preview, and yes, I was bored stiff. I didn't care for the show in the park, but thought it worked better there. I only like about 3-4 songs in the score, and I don't like/don't understand the book to the show at all. People say it is supposed to be "an experience." Well, I guess I went into it wanting a comprehensive storyline and songs that actually go along with the storyline. What I got (from my perspective) was a mish mosh of songs and a loose plot thrown in. I know others who have loved it though, and I respect their opinions, but both of my friends who I went with also hated it. It'll be interesting to see how the reviews play out for this show...

[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 6:00pm

I will bet the reviews will follow along the lines of how it was reviewed in the Park. Pretty much glowing all around.
I found this production a breath of fresh air after WSS (the later whose production doesn't live up to the score IMHO)

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 6:00pm

Basically I expect the reviews will reflect those in the park which were very positive.
And the TIMES sends the same reviewer who reviewed the show before (which I think is stupid).

People have been whining for a good revival of this show on Broadway for years, well they can stop now because this is a fresh, exciting, sexy revival that catches the original spirit and thensome. Not just the best revival of this season, but one of the best of all time.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 6:28pm

Go see this show! It's incredible!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 6:38pm

Wow, I never thought anyone would describe HAIR as boring, especially compared to the just-okay production of WEST SIDE STORY playing on Broadway right now.
It's definitely worth the money. It's one of the most exciting productions on Broadway at the moment. It's fun, it's topical, it's daring, and it's important. It's probably one of the shows that most influences today's rock musicals and it's done so eloquently.
Not only that, but unlike WEST SIDE STORY, the cast is having the time of their lives. Will Swenson is giving a Tony-worthy performance (and how I hope he wins), Gavin Creel has a great voice even if he's not the best actor out there, and the rest of the performers are just an absolute thrill.
I plan on paying the $70-80 I spent the first time seeing it. It was a thousand times tighter and more exciting than WEST SIDE STORY, it was everything that GUYS & DOLLS hoped it could be, and it was just a perfect evening at the theatre. Definitely go see it.

[sgv123]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 6:59pm

^ I agree with everything you said.

Well, WAT does not really care for the music or the story, so I guess liking the show as a whole is out of the question.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 7:17pm

That's correct, sgv123. It's just not my type of show (though I can certainly understand that others could enjoy it).

Posted: 3/30/09 at 7:27pm

As a revival Hair is definitely a better realization of the original material than WSS. (However, as a play, there is just no comparison. WSS is an, arguably, perfect show. This production just does nothing to advance that fact.)
I didn't think they could transfer the feel of the production in the park to a theater, but I think they have succeeded. The production value and enthusiasm of the cast of Hair make a so-so show a fun evening of theater. Somewhat groundbreaking, if not earth shattering, for its time, it's a worthwhile piece of theater history and this is a worthy, if not terribly relevant, re-telling.
I wish I liked the music better and that they would have taken the liberty of tightening up Act II, which drags, but it is still a much better take on the source material than the current WSS.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 7:48pm

I adore that so many people who love the show in this thread keep saying that the nudity "isn't bad." You guys really seemed to get the message of the show.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 7:51pm

The original was great & I look forward to seeing this one.

I was not to thrilled with the movie but that is another story.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 7:51pm

Show for show WSS IS a superior show. HOWEVER, the current production of Hair FAR surpasses the current production of WSS.

I could NEVER reccommend that anyone waste money on seeing the current WSS.

There are other threads lauding the amazement of Hair...just look around. MANY, many folks here are "in love with it." And while WAT is certainly entitled to his opinions about BOTH shows, there are very few here that agree with him...at least on these two shows.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 8:07pm

Yes, Namo. The nude scene which was so shocking in 1968 is so tame today. Found that part of the show somewhat prudish. Tasteful nudity in Hair? Was that what is was supposed to be about!?
Rado during one of his publicity talks with Google (it is on You Tube) talked about the inspiration for that scene. It was during a relatively sedate protest in Sheep Meadow a crowd of about 2,000 people sort of surrounded two guys who just took off their clothes and were standing there naked. The mounted police were alerted and began closing in on the pair. The crowd realizing what was happening turned around on the cops and began chanting "We Love the Cops" as they pushed them backwards allowing the two to get dressed and slip away. The nudity should be out and proud, free and being yourself. It's LIFE! Tasteful lighting and hidden in shadows sort of defeats the purpose.

end of thread jack.

Yes HAIR is worth every penny!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 8:10pm

This "so so" show ran 4 years in it's original production,
that was huge at the time and it became a cultural phenom.