Most of the Excalibur cast of Hair is a bit too young to know about free love, LSD, and the hippy movement, so not only is the show entertaining, it's a bit of a lesson in recent history.
The G-rated version of Hair (the broadway show is known for its nudity) will be presented by Excalibur at the Playhouse June 17 to July 3.
Hair tells the story of a group of politically active hippies called the tribe, who were living the bohemian lifestyle in New York as they protested the Vietnam War. The characters in the play try to balance their lives, loves and the sexual revolution with their rebellion against the war, their conservative parents and society.
The show is set in the era where it was all about peace, love and happiness and it's a nice complement to Excalibur's previous show Miss Saigon, which provided a glimpse into what was going on during the Vietnam war. Hair will showcase what was happening at that time in North America.
The 25-member cast is pretty much on stage during the entire production.
"It's a bit of a marathon," said actor Beau Walsh, who plays lead George Berger. "I love this play. I love the energy it brings."
The show has relevance to what's going on in the world now, even though it's set in another era, Walsh added, who is teacher in the nursing program at UNBC.
"It fits in the thinking of world peace," said Bonnie Leach, artistic director at Excalibur. "The songs and the mood of the show are so timeless. "
Gigi Finger plays a member of the tribe and she is hoping the show inspires young people, who are children of the Internet era, to showcase their talents and give theatre arts a try.
"We have a lot of young people in this production and they've learned a lot about the hippy movement," said Gigi, a speech language pathologist. "Come see the show. It is family-friendly and I would like to encourage former hippies to attend the show in costume."
Tickets are available at Studio 2880 by calling 250-563-2880. Seniors and students are $23, adults are $27.
