I remember the event very clearly. August 2008, Central park, 5 30 - 6 am. I came to the one of Central Park entrances which is situated not far from the Museum of National History. There were already standing a lot of people. Well, like 40-50 people. It’s not a lot if compare with the amount of people that would be in the line just in a few hours. The line was well-organized. Around 6 am the leader of the line (who looked like and probably was true hippie) waved his hand and the line started moving towards the box office. In several minutes we were near the box office, people started to sit and lie on the grass, someone brought blankets and chairs. I got a large blue beach towel with me. I spent there around 8 hours to get a couple of tickets to the “Hair” in Central Park. And it was totally worth it.

At the end of the performance, during the curtain call I was among the first people who danced on stage with the actors. It was so much fun, so much energy, so much excitement. When I found out the revival of “Hair” was coming to Broadway right from Central Park I was excited and at the same time I didn’t hope for anything because I know that it would be hard to watch the show after such an amazing Central Park nature fresh air scenes in the closed Broadway theatre (even if it’s the same production).

On the second preview during the shooting of the new “Broadway Sergey” Episode for BroadwaySpace.com I saw “Hair” on Broadway. And what can I tell – it was amazing! Since I already have an interesting video on BroadwaySpace about “Hair” and I even interviewed there some of the cast members, I’ll try to make this review short but informative.

Interaction with audience.

It’s definitely the most interactive musical on Broadway these days. By this term I mean the actors really interact with audience members, talk with them, touch them, dance with them. You feel yourself like a part of the show, especially if you seat in the orchestra. I think because the Broadway house where they’re performing is quite small compare to the theatre in Central park where they performed before it feels like audience member even more involved. So I want to give you some advises where to seat first. You should really get tickets to orchestra level. Closer to stage – better. If you seat in an aisle you have a chance to be one of the couple of audience members (one from the left, and one from the right side of the orchestra) to dance almost one song during the second act with a cast member. Like it happened with me that day! I’ll tell you the story.

We were shooting the video for BroadwaySpace as you already know and we had to do final footages with audience exiting theatre, and ask them their opinions (you can watch all this on the video). We had to exit the theatre right before the curtain call. I knew I wouldn’t be able to dance on stage with the cast members! I was really upset because of it. But during the second act one of the cast members picked me from my seat and we started to dance right in the aisle! It was really great experience, especially for me, because I would miss the final dancing on the stage. And it was even better because it was sort of exclusive dance – only me and the cast member. So if you want to experience something like this – seat close to stage an on the aisle.

Energy.

The show has an amazing energy. You can feel it. And it’s not only because it’s a rock musical. Even on the slow songs like “Easy to be hard” or “Where do I go” you experience this amazing feeling, the same feelings like characters in the show, and that’s truly amazing experience.
All cast members perfectly match together, they all great, they all one tribe. I don’t even want to criticize someone form the tribe, because all of them has an amazing energetic voices and spirits. I believed them and I felt the same way as characters.

Sets, lights, costumes, choreography.

The show looks great on the Al Hirschfeld Theatre’s stage. Yeah, not so much room like it was in the central park, but sets and lights are beautiful. You probably know that I like good light design, and it this show it’s really good. Kevin Adams set up light design for my favorite show in 2008 Passing Strange and also for Spring Awakening. And you know lights were good there. It truly expresses the situation and feelings of the characters. Costumes look…hippie, which is good. And choreography rocks!

Still actual theme.

A lot of years passed since 1967, but “Hair” still bears actual message and thematic: freedom, peace, freedom of love. With all these wars all over the world, with all these struggles with gay marriage in the States, it’s still actual today like it was before. I am sure even young people who never heard about “Hair” before will love and understand this show.

So far it’s the best revival I have ever seen this season! I really recommend you to watch the show. But remember, if you want to feel all the interaction and if you want to dance on stage at the curtain call with all cast members, you should seat in the orchestra!