'Age of Aquarious' Resonates with Audience

Fullerton College Hornet  - Karmina Landicho - Wednesday, March 14th, 2007
Nude as the news: The Tribes bares it all: its emotions, relationships and skin in FCs production of "Hair," the award winning Broadway musical about 60s America.

A cast of 50 students successfully brought the famous Broadway musical "Hair" to the FC stage this weekend.

Gary Krinke directed James Rado and Gerome Ragni's musical experience of the Age of Aquarius for the second time at FC. The cast used the entire Campus theatre with the best of its vocal and dancing abilities to depict 1968 Greenwich Village.

"Hair" is the story of a bond among high school students coming together as the Tribe, the epitome of 60s hippies.

Claude (Juan Guillen) is standing still alongside his friends Berger (Tom Patrick) and Sheila (Afton Quast) who cut a lock of Claude's hair and throw it in the fire. It symbolizes becoming one with the Tribe.

It's a rough adventure of nothing but "beads, freedom, peace and happiness."

But the real meaning of it all is that every single person is simply struggling for freedom. They are trying to find their own identity.

For instance, Claude is tired of being pushed into participating: in the Vietnam War.-In one scene he admits that he wants to become invisible because of his opposition to the war. But unfortunately, he later finds himself having to repeatedly say, "I'm human being # 100963297." Referring to himself as a number rather than a person is not just symbolically catchy, but powerful and moving.

There are very powerful moments throughout the play that are heart wrenching. It's an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end. These kids want nothing but peace and love, yet they are often attacking each other.

"Hair" doesn't just evolve around hippies, orgies, peace signs and drugs. It cleverly hits many parts of our historical and musical past as well. The audience is given a glance of the American Indian War and a skit from Aretha Franklin. One act in the play actually had the scent of cannabis circulating through the room.

The costumes were in bright and tacky colors, and it worked. Krinke said that the girl's Go-Go boots cost about $60 for one pair while moon-man helmets that were shown for less than 5 minutes were about $500 a piece. In the long run, it was the small attention to detail that made the experience even more magical.

There are plenty of unusual surprises too "ooh" and "ah" at. With infectious dancing, singing, humming and laughing, audience members can find something that resonates with them.

"Hair" showcases more than just the. stereotypical tie-dyed hippie playing the guitar on the corner of the street. Even the much talked about nude scene is more tasteful than offensive.

The play digs deeper. The musical drama includes politically naive positions from sexually frustrated, drugged-out and wounded-but amusing characters.

The ensemble produces a combination of pure energy and emotion that has successfully become part of a milestone in American musical theatre.