What a flood of memories that was for me. "Hair" was the first Broadway Musical production that I saw in person. My mom (yes, I said my mom!) took me to see "Hair" for my 17th birthday. I don't think she knew what the show was about, and I think it embarrassed her quite a bit... but she sat there... a couple of times with her eyes closed... because she wasn't there for the show. She was there to indulge the love of theatre that bloomed in the heart of her oldest daughter.
People around us actually got up and walked out during the performance.. (a very nasty NO_NO in the world of the arts!). I guess they had no prior knowledge of the show's subject matter either...
Ours was not a common life in north Mississippi. As children we were exposed to trips to the symphony, opera and local community theatre productions of "My Fair Lady","Oklahoma" and the like. So, when I began begging my mom and dad to let me go to see "Hair"... the traveling show version... in Memphis, Tennessee... I'm sure it didn't seem to them, to be an unusual request... The show just happened to be coming to Memphis in December, 1971... the same month I would turn 17 years old. It also didn't seem unusual that my mom would travel to Memphis with me to see the musical.
I even remember what I wore... a long cotton tie-dyed dress (we called them Maxi-dresses in the early 1970's), and sandals with ribbons that tied up the calf... I rocked!
I of course loved the show.. We went out for a late dinner afterwards... and I talked my mom's head off about the songs and the costumes... when I asked her if she enjoyed the musical... her only reply was a sweet understanding smile and... "Well, it was interesting...".
Today, after watching "Sunday Morning", I went to the closet shelf that holds my youthful collection of albums... that would be "vinyl" for those of you born post 1975... There amongst my treasures was my original Broadway Cast Recording of "Hair"... The American Tribal Love Rock Musical... I think I'll break out the turntable later today and take that little walk down memory lane...
"Hair" the revival, opens Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 at the Hirschfeld Theatre in New York City. If you don't remember the original production, link HERE to Wikipedia to read all about the controversial production of the late 1960's. Those were unusual times... and many of us lived them... in one way or the other... "What a Piece of Work Is Man..."
Yes, I know "Hair" doesn't seem like something that would fit into Dixie's country life... but I am a very complicated woman... down here in French Lique.
Ours was not a common life in north Mississippi. As children we were exposed to trips to the symphony, opera and local community theatre productions of "My Fair Lady","Oklahoma" and the like. So, when I began begging my mom and dad to let me go to see "Hair"... the traveling show version... in Memphis, Tennessee... I'm sure it didn't seem to them, to be an unusual request... The show just happened to be coming to Memphis in December, 1971... the same month I would turn 17 years old. It also didn't seem unusual that my mom would travel to Memphis with me to see the musical.
I even remember what I wore... a long cotton tie-dyed dress (we called them Maxi-dresses in the early 1970's), and sandals with ribbons that tied up the calf... I rocked!
I of course loved the show.. We went out for a late dinner afterwards... and I talked my mom's head off about the songs and the costumes... when I asked her if she enjoyed the musical... her only reply was a sweet understanding smile and... "Well, it was interesting...".Today, after watching "Sunday Morning", I went to the closet shelf that holds my youthful collection of albums... that would be "vinyl" for those of you born post 1975... There amongst my treasures was my original Broadway Cast Recording of "Hair"... The American Tribal Love Rock Musical... I think I'll break out the turntable later today and take that little walk down memory lane...
"Hair" the revival, opens Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 at the Hirschfeld Theatre in New York City. If you don't remember the original production, link HERE to Wikipedia to read all about the controversial production of the late 1960's. Those were unusual times... and many of us lived them... in one way or the other... "What a Piece of Work Is Man..."Yes, I know "Hair" doesn't seem like something that would fit into Dixie's country life... but I am a very complicated woman... down here in French Lique.
