There’s more to it than just sex, drugs, rock and roll and hair. Throughout the distractions of the psychedelic age, sexual desires and the haze of drugs lay a powerful hidden message.
People tend to stop listening when they hear the words student musical, but “Hair” was worth attending. The actors seemed to really enjoy stepping into character and made it look like fun. Going to the show wasn’t disappointing at all. I enjoyed watching it and it’s pretty good, especially when you take into account that it’s a student show.
One of the most noticeable things about the play is how comfortable the actors are with themselves and others. One actor, Sam Leeper, stripped free of his trousers and proudly displayed himself in nothing but tighty whiteys and a leather loincloth. Then there are the explicit scenes of all the actors in different sexual positions ranging from traditional missionary to a menage a trois.
Berger, played by Leeper, and Claude, played by Steven McCloud, portrayed the roles of the sinner and the saint. The way they acted and dressed emphasized their roles. First there’s Berger, with fiery red hair and a bare chest, who was infatuated with the getting stoned, free love and rebelling against the war aspect of the 60’s. He didn’t want any responsibility; he just wanted the high to last forever. Berger burns his draft card without a second thought. Then there’s Claude, who truly wanted to follow the beliefs of the 60’s. He wanted to find peace, meditate and think about things larger than life — a modern day philosopher. In the end, he knows he has to give up his carefree life, accept the responsibility of the draft and, in the end, lose his life in the war.
“I like the part where they were singing about Lucifer. I like the lighting and everything. It was pretty great,” LPC student Amanda Bosch said.
It wasn’t just attention to details, such as using the stage and ground level to give the illusion of elevation, or how the lights complemented each scene, but also the use of props. They cleverly used props such as e-cigarettes and fog machines to add to the visuals and make it more attractive to the eye. Both contributed to help make the air more smoky, which added to the hazy, dreamlike feel of the show.
“I think the set design is really cool. It’s amazing to see how they transform the stage,” LPC student Nicole Morano said.
The actors never broke character and their voices were generally good. On occasion, during long or high notes, a voice would shake or crack. During the song “Give Up All Desires,” actress Marcella Jean, Sheila, held her notes and her voice was strikingly clear.
It’s hard to pinpoint every good scene and every good song. The whole cast, or tribe as they called themselves, did a good job. Each person was talented and added something unique to the show.
“I like this show because it’s an ensemble show,” Wesley Morgan, LPC Theater Instructor and “Hair” director, said. “It has a lot of things for a lot of people to do, so a lot of people get to shine.”