Manchester Palace Theatre – until 13 April 2019
Reviewed by Marcus Richardson
5*****
Hair The Musical is a legendary show in theatre, no matter who you talk to they probably know a few songs from the show. Iconic songs such as Age of Aquarius and Let The Sun Shine In are just two of the many songs from the show. The show to many is about hippies getting high and hating war, which in essence is exactly what the show is about; it’s a euphoric tale of how counterculture reacted to the Vietnam War, the show is just as much as an act of political rebellion as it is an entertaining show. Throughout the show you are taken on a trip exploring different characters and mainly how they reject society. Now I’m sure many people have seen the film, I being one of them, however there is a very huge contrast between the two with a wildly different ‘plot’.
The characters in the show are notable both for their comical entertainment and their individuality, Berger being one of the most notable characters in the show. Jake Quickenden took on this colourful character with a lot of spice and not a care in the world. Right from the moment that he opens his mouth he haves fun alongside the audience as he strips to a thong, something I’m sure a lot of people in the audience didn’t mind, Quickenden opens the dialogue in the show and creates a great atmosphere with the audience laughing throughout most of the show. Aiesha Pease plays Dionne, with vocals that stand out, opening the show with the Age Of Aquarius and singing the song White Boys. The character of Claude was the biggest difference from the film, many of you will remember a country boy coming to New York City and being an outsider to hippy culture, however in the show he is a long haired Aquarius himself. Played by Paul Wilkins, we are given a man torn between going to war or staying in New York to ‘fight’ against the conflict. Wilkins does an amazing job of finding the battle inside the character as well as delivering songs that pick a punch such as The Flesh Failures. Although I have only named three of the fourteen actors, everyone was absolutely stunning and I left the theatre speechless and unable to stop smiling.
When it first hit the stage it was revolutionary to both theatre and society, the style of the show being describe as a Rock Musical. I feel like watching the show is similar to a concert with a plot thrown in on the side with a bit of dialogue here and there and the songs guiding the audience. The songs were just as catchy and wacky as you remember them, being saucy and a little bit controversial. The stage was colourful to match the music and characters, the group being described as a tribe is apparent in the design of the stage and costume.
When asked about what I thought of the show I was unable to describe how I felt, I still find it hard to articulate how much I loved the show. I knew I was going to love it, but I didn’t know I was going to be this struck but the show. One way of showing how much I loved it was how the three hour travel time it took me to get to Manchester just to watch the show, and I’ll gladly do it again. I think everyone, over a certain age, should go and see this show whilst it’s on tour. If I didn’t get the chance to see it I would be devastated, now I want everyone else to watch the Tale of Peace and Happiness as it goes across the UK. Go and see this show, you’ll be high just from the energy and thrill of the show.