Hair

by Nat Marcus

I was totally unfamiliar with the musical Hair until seeing it. I knew that there were hippies, a whole lot of flowers, and most obviously, a lot of hair. My preconceptions all turned out to be correct, but it was a musical that struck me in many more ways than just beautiful flowing locks.

The show follows a Tribe of young bohemians camping out in Central Park, practicing the ways of love, peace, and tolerance. Claude, the troubled leader of this group of hippies, serves as the narrator. The songs speak of the political and social problems the activist youth face in the 1960’s fighting against sexual and cultural repression, but also of the love that’s spread in the Age of Aquarius and the mind-opening hallucinogenics that are shared throughout the Tribe. As the pressure to join the army fighting in the Vietnam War increases and the Tribe begins to fall apart, Claude wonders if fighting for one’s identity at all times is better than having no identity at all. One thing that sets Hair apart from other musicals is the lack of dialogue between songs; instead, the plot is almost entirely moved forward by song. I enjoyed simply listening to the psychedelic melodies the cast sings to develop the story (and was spared from the agonizingly corny musical acting). One of the most unique about the show is the energy that the ensemble brings onstage and reatins throughout the whole musical. This energy is brought into the audience as well - during some songs, the Tribe comes down into the seats and dances with audience members, which adds a whole new layer of excitement to the performances.

Although Hair takes place more than 40 years ago, I can relate to the desire to fight against repression and fight for what I think is right. It is a show that I would recommend to anyone in the mood for an uplifting, funny, and powerful musical. Especially if you're not usually into musicals (like me), Hair will make you think differently.

HOW TO SEE THE SHOW: $25 lottery rush 2 hours before show; $25 student rush • Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 W. 45th St.

The Pride

by Sabrina Khan

It’s 1958 and Sylvia, Philip and Oliver are struggling to find love and come to terms with their sexuality. Shoot forward to 2008 and now they are trying to discern the fine line between love and lust and find true companionship. Caught in “an erotic time warp,” The Pride tells the story of two sets of three individuals with the same names and how they deal with the hardships of love amidst each society’s sexual attitudes during the two different time periods.

In 1958, Philip is in deep denial of his sexual orientation. An incredibly virile man who finds “effeminate” men “offensive,” Philip finds his world turned upside down when his wife Sylvia introduces him to Oliver, and the two develop a private relationship that he eventually deems the cause of a mental disorder.

Heavily manipulated by the 1950s views on the issue, Philip refuses to accept the truth and tries to lead a “normal” life with little consideration for Sylvia who, in turn, never gets the chance to feel the kind of bond with her husband that he once shared with Oliver. Victims of his betrayal, Oliver and Sylvia recognize their positions, but the pressures of the era silence their emotions and their lives are forcefully and heart wrenchingly dictated by Philip’s actions.
 

The production fast-forwards to 2008, where Oliver personally identifies himself as a sexual deviant. He is completely in love with Philip but constantly seeks meaningless encounters with anonymous men. As a loyal partner, Philip cannot accept this and leaves Oliver. A weakened and heartsick man, he finds solace in their mutual best friend, Sylvia. Sylvia meanwhile tries to find her own happiness, but often finds herself wedged between Oliver and Philip, helping them to solve their issues. In the present, all three realize how much has changed, but they also know that as “free” as they may finally be, obstacles still exist. Amidst this thickening drama, Sylvia dramatically and comically reveals that there is more to the gay community than a great knowledge of draperies and culinary instinct. There is a whole past of struggle and hope that enables them to show their pride.

Led by a stellar cast, The Pride is a passionate and potent play that recounts the progress of homosexuality in the public eye. It is a truly intense show with moments of profound and frightening impact that will be memorable to all those who open their minds to it.

TICKETS: $15 student rush thru 3/28 - Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher St

As You Like It

by Ben Ellentuck

When I entered the BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) Harvey Theater, where As You Like It is playing, I was immediately struck. The theater is absolutely enormous. It also looks like it’s about to collapse. Old columns just barely hold up the balcony. The walls and ceiling are crumbling: I would not have been entirely surprised if a piece of debris had fallen on me. Also—a warning—the seats are very flat and not ideal for sitting in for long periods of time. And yet, the space, especially in combination with the set, is breathtaking.

Ah, the set! The set designer has hit a home run, beautifully capturing the essence of the forest, where most of the action takes place. The trees are like telephone poles, the back wall like an infinitely tall prison barrier; first snow on the ground, then what looks like wheat—the whole set up is weird and wonderful. The lighting design, too, is great; there is a very nice chemistry between the lighting and the set that results in some very cool effects throughout the performance.

Ah…the performance. Is it a bad sign that I enjoyed looking at the set more than at the performers?
 

As You Like It is a comedy by William Shakespeare (remember him?). As such, you can be sure that there will be a woman (Rosalind) dressing like a man, lovers (her and a guy named Orlando, among others), fools, nobility, singing and general merriment, and of course many happy marriages at the end (As You Like It features a quadruple marriage). Yes, of course there is a plot, but it’s much too complicated to write here. (The program attempts a synopsis that is so confusing I almost didn’t bother to pay attention at all—but don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll get the basics…by intermission.)

Sure, there are the famous speeches—“all the world’s a stage,” among others—that can’t possibly go wrong. There are the gags that are funny no matter what. There are some moments that inevitably work—the writing is just that good. But in this production, at least for me, these were the only moments that I really enjoyed.

The production, directed by Sam Mendes (he directed American Beauty and Revolutionary Road, among other movies—along with many other plays), is not played as a comedy—or at least it isn’t particularly funny. (But then again I didn’t find American Beauty particularly funny, either.) As a result, I didn’t really have that much fun watching the actors speak—and they speak quite a bit; the production is three hours long.

Additionally, Mendes sprinkles in a bunch of conceptual elements—some modern costumes here, some English accents there, some color-blind casting, a lot of the cast playing multiple roles—that feel more like afterthoughts than anything else. They’re never really fleshed out, and I didn’t feel like I “got” what Mendes was going for in the end—but perhaps I’m just stupidly inattentive. I don’t know. Maybe it was my flat seat, after all.

HOW TO SEE THE SHOW: $10 student rush tickets • BAM Harvey Theater, 651 Fulton Street, Brooklyn

Kids Night on Broadway

Kid’s Night On Broadway is an event presented by The Broadway League in which children ages 6 to 18 can see a participating Broadway show for free as long as they are with a full paying adult. The Broadway League began the program in 1996 to allow young people to experience the thrill of live theatre.

Participating shows include: Billy Elliot, Chicago, Fela! , Hair, In The Heights, The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia!, Memphis, Next To Normal, The Phantom Of The Opera, South Pacific, West Side Story, Wicked, Avenue Q and Stomp.

In NYC, the celebration kicks off at Madame Tussauds (234 West 42^nd Street between 7^th & 8^th Avenues) on February 2 with a Fan Festival hosted by Corbin Bleu (from High School Musical). KNOB tickets are also available for both the matinee and evening performances on Sunday, February 7^th.

All participants receive a special souvenir Playbill from tdf (hey, that's us!) that also qualifies them for discounts at eateries in and around the midtown area, pre-theatre parties, and discounted parking. The playbill includes behind-the-scenes information on many of the participating shows. Look closely - many PxP ploggers contributed their writing!

Some of the KNOB festivities include a theatrical makeup station, Broadway karaoke and dance (with host Corbin Bleu and other Broadway actors), a Broadway tattoo parlor, Autograph Alley with Broadway casts, and Camp Broadway and Broadway Green Alliance special activities.

For more info visit: www.kidsnightonbroadway.com