The Vaults 11th October 2017- 13th January 2018. Reviewed by Jessica Brady
4****
Hair the musical is back for a 50th anniversary run at The Vaults Waterloo with an immersive edge. Hair over the years it’s been produced has at times caused controversy, intrigue and shock and this latest revival ticks all those boxes in a spectacular way (and I’m not just talking about the ‘will they/won’t they get naked? question. I’m not going to ruin it for you either so go see it to find out!).
Set in late 1960’s America, Hair is a culmination of rebellion against the Vietnam War, breaking racial and sexual prejudice and freedom. The Show introduces us to a tribe of hippies who in turn speak to the crowds and share their stories of how they came to be in this drug fuelled, free loving clan. Each tribe member appears to be far removed from the real world from an outsider’s perspective but when you get to the heart of the matter, they are probably more grounded than most of the top flying politicians of the decade whose decisions were leading a nation into crisis.
Hair is a wonderfully psychedelic trip for an audience with a foyer decked out like a hippy festival, colourful and with posters and placards of the times displayed throughout, you soon settle into the vibe that is being created. As you enter the bunker like auditorium at the vaults you see the cast around an incense burner meditating as you make your way to your seats. The set is designed to appear like a grassy knoll with a fence at the back where the live band is based while streams of colourful ribbons are covering the ceiling and walls setting the scene for the experience about to unfold.
The score to Hair has always been a personal favourite of mine, with each song offering something special and unique in its style and lyrics but one thing always the remains, the cast vocals have to be on point, this cast excelled in vocal ability. It’s difficult to single out performers from this 14 strong cast as each member was great in their role and all showed great skill with the inventive choreography that was bursting with energy. I must mention that I couldn’t keep my eyes of Natalie Green as Cassie/Mom as her voice was just INCREDIBLE as was Laura Johnson as Shelia, both these woman were electric and full of the spirit of Hair and I found I was drawn to their performances. The only thing I noticed was occasionally the authenticity of the acting, as it came across a little hammy and stereotypical of a generic ‘hippy’ in parts but I didn’t mind so much as the cast blew me away with their ensemble vocals and the chemistry was powerful with the cast.
I think this revival at The Vaults has set the bar high for the future of Hair The Musical, with great direction by Jonathan O’Boyle, impressive choreography by William Whelton and seamless musical direction by Gareth Bretherton it has all the ingredients to be a success and would urge lovers of this musical not to miss it as you will not be disappointed. As for new audience members who may not know much about Hair, go along and let the sunshine in as it will leave you uplifted and definitely feeling the love!