Spring Break
HTC's 'Hair': Living in the 'Age of Aquarius'
by Michelle Minkoff
Arts | 3/22/05
Posted online at 2:19 AM EST on 3/22/05
Daring, multi-colored costumes designed by Courtney Rand '07 were donned not only by the lead soloists, but also by the chorus and even some members of the orchestra. Some wore tie-dyed T-shirts, while others sported period slogans like "Take LSD" and "The System is rotting."
Aside from a middle-fingered salute to then-President Lyndon B. Johnson, Hair's most provocative moment was a bedroom orgy scene. In the orginal version by Joseph Pap there was full nudity in several scenes.
Hillel Theater Group's adaptation opted instead to strip its cast down to its underwear. Although avoiding the intentional excess of the original, this interpretation was still effective, and the scene remained tasteful while still preserving the spirit of the play.
Those free-spirited and fearless attitudes have characterized Hair for three decades, and Hillel Theater Group's adaptation of the infamous musical certainly maintained the show's always-controversial influence. The cast and crew succeeded in drawing the audience to the psychedelic atmosphere of the 1960s.
For the members of Sunday night's audience, Hair was the perfect opportunity to lose themselves to a time when anything seemed possible.
Editors' note: Brian Paternostro '07, who directed Hair, is the assistant layout editor of the Justice.
Aside from a middle-fingered salute to then-President Lyndon B. Johnson, Hair's most provocative moment was a bedroom orgy scene. In the orginal version by Joseph Pap there was full nudity in several scenes.
Hillel Theater Group's adaptation opted instead to strip its cast down to its underwear. Although avoiding the intentional excess of the original, this interpretation was still effective, and the scene remained tasteful while still preserving the spirit of the play.
Those free-spirited and fearless attitudes have characterized Hair for three decades, and Hillel Theater Group's adaptation of the infamous musical certainly maintained the show's always-controversial influence. The cast and crew succeeded in drawing the audience to the psychedelic atmosphere of the 1960s.
For the members of Sunday night's audience, Hair was the perfect opportunity to lose themselves to a time when anything seemed possible.
Editors' note: Brian Paternostro '07, who directed Hair, is the assistant layout editor of the Justice.
