Welcome to the ‘Age of Aquarius’. It’s 1967 and Hair’s hippie ‘tribe' youngsters in the East Village of New York are yearning to change the world, questioning authority and the American flag. Wild, colourful, sexually liberated and free, they are united in protest and song, under the shadow of the Vietnam War. Read more …
Those who haven't seen Hair performed live should find much to enjoy, even if those looking for any substance in plot or character will find nothing but a puff of smoke.
Over 50 years on and the Age of Aquarius is still providing a relevant, controversial (in parts) and – eventually – thunderously entertaining piece of musical theatre in Hair.
While the gospel-based bubblegum soundtrack of now mainstream standards such as I Got Life and Let the Sunshine In are unlikely to bring down the government, they make for an infectiously appealing trip.
Hair The Musical is an easy-going production that, despite a talented young cast, is let down by a story that fails to provide significance for today's audience. Try elsewhere if you wish to relive the summer of love.
It doesn’t have the impact that it once had and the shock value has gone, even the full-frontal nudity barely raises an eyebrow, but it stands as a window to another time and provides some insight on a pivotal time in social history.
Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh from Monday June 17, 2019, until Saturday June 22, 2019. More info: www.edinburghplayhouse.org.uk
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