Courtesy of “Hair”Protest marches, stoned-out trips and be-ins will fill the Edison stage this Friday as Claude Bukowski and his Tribe (monikered “Midnight Zephyr” by the cast) release the battle cry of a desperate generation. Set in 1968, “Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” follows the plight of a group of hippies as they struggle to deal with their identity, their emerging sexuality and the painful initiation of the draft as it begins to deeply affect their tight-knit community.
According to Director Jeffrey Matthews, “‘Hair’ is not so much a play as a happening. It’s the product of a very particular moment. It’s happy and fun and the songs are great, but it does have some harder edges. There’s love but there’s also cruelty.”
Featuring such notable hits as “Aquarius” and “Good Morning Starshine,” “Hair” premiered in 1967 and was the anthem of an entire counterculture, quickly becoming a Broadway classic.
Despite its obvious datedness, “Hair” remains truly poignant for every generation, touching on the basic human qualities of love, solidarity and friendship in the midst of political turmoil.
“Hair” will be performed at the Edison Theatre on Oct. 7-8 and Oct. 14-15 at 8 p.m., as well as on Oct. 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are now available and can be purchased at the Edison Theatre Box Office.