lecture notes by Michael Moor
Hair: 1968
Music: Galt MacDermot
Lyrics:
James Rado
Hair is subversive!
Hair not only deals with social and ethical issues but is also
blatantly anti-establishment.
It uses 'rock music'; Good Morning Star shine was a hit record
It promotes Hippy ideology
It promotes the use of drugs
It
promoted ecological awareness
It anticipates 'new age' sensibilities
It is anti war, in particular Vietnam
It celebrates the lives of 'outsiders'
It suggests 'free love'
It promoted interracial sex
It displayed nudity
Hair does all these things and more.
It certainly was a revelation at the time, however the musical theatre
has historically been fast to pick up new trends. It did so with jazz for
example
The success of Hair opened the doors for any number of Rock Musicals,
Godspell, Jesus Christ Super Star, Evita …
The freestanding 'hit' rock/pop song became a component or convention of
the modern musical.
We can view Hair from a political/cultural perspective and we can view it as innovative theatre in its use of costume, staging and use of music. Most of the controversial issues are deal with in song.
It
is a musical of its time... we see the influences of Bob Dylan and the
protest movement and the protest song
We can view its sensibilities and admire it's courage and integrity. Hair
gave the musical theatre an infusion of life by attracting and speaking for a
new generation.
Hair gave a new creditability to the musical theatre as a medium for
serious issues and innovation.