OUTscene Editor
Seattle's Paramount Theatre is currently letting the sun shine in with the national tour of the Tony Award winning revival of the 60's rock musical "Hair". I have seen "Hair" numerous times but this revival reminded me of the 1990's revival of 'Cabaret" as in more Targeting a Gay audience. Who knew "Hair" could be So Gay?
I could now understand why the very OUT Gavin Creel played Berger in the revival. Steel Burkhardt's Berger (for the National Tour) was Flamboyant from the moment he appeared on stage and promptly took his pants off to reveal a leather thong with added attachments and then went into the audience to give them a closer look.
The Best and the worst moments were when cast members went into the audience to interact and then stood on the seats with a flew that slipped off them. I hope the Paramount's seats hold up.
This revival of the groundbreaking 60's musical follows a group of young idealistic flower children as they strive to promote their views of love and acceptance in the midst of a society struggling with change and war. But beyond the principles they try to convey there is also a more specific struggle of one of the characters, Claude, as he decides whether he's strong enough to follow his free spirited friends like the freewheeling Berger and activist Sheila and burn his draft card, or go by what society and his parents espouse and allow himself to be inducted into the Army to fight in a war he doesn't condone.
One Gay moment featured a a full-figured women as a Passerby to only be revealed as Man in Drag! The best moment is at the Last minute of Act one that features the cast all huddled together completely nude with lots of Full-Frontal!
The Triangle of Berger, Sheila, and Claude actually was performed as a Bi-sexual Triangle with more tender moments between Berger and Claude then any of them with Sheila combined.
At the end, the sadness of the story turns to joy as just like in the Broadway revival, inviting anyone who wants to up on the stage at the end to dance and sing with the Tribe. And by doing this they initiate all of us into the Tribe and that's why it works. You leave the theater with such a warm positive feeling that you cannot possibly have had a bad time.
Steel Burkhardt as Berger has enough energy and spirit for 10 leading men and the voice to match. Phrye Hawkins as Dionne belts out the opening number with power and warmth to set the perfect tone for the opening of the show. Matt DeAngelis as (who is portrayed as Gay) Woof is equal parts hysterical and touching. Darius Nichols as Hud comes across as a glorious force of nature. Caren Lyn Tackett is wonderful as the conflicted Sheila and her rendition of "Easy to be Hard" is one for the ages. Kacie Sheik is adorable as the loveable Jeanie. Paris Remillard as the torn Claude is a sight to behold. His final number was sublime both in his incredible voice as well as the heart wrenching emotion he imbued it with. And I also must mention Tribe members (the Gorgeous) Marshal Kennedy Carolan and Cailan Rose whose lead in to Claude's "What a Piece of Work is Man" number was mesmerizing.
"Hair" plays at Seattle's Paramount Theatre through December 4th. For tickets or information visit them online at www.tickets.com, www.stgpresents.org or http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/ or call 877-STG-4TIX (877-784-4849).
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