'Hair' one of Tibbits' best http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20090724/ENTERTAINMENT/307240010/1002/NEWS01/-Hair--one-of-Tibbits--best
Chris Tower • For the Enquirer July 24, 2009 When the musical "Hair" opened on Broadway in 1968, a reviewer from "Variety" called the show "loony" and "without a story, form, music, dancing, beauty or artistry.... It's impossible to tell whether (the cast has) talent. Maybe talent is irrelevant in this new kind of show business." Times have changed, and with a revival on Broadway winning Tony Awards this year, Tibbits Professional Summer Theatre in Coldwater stages its own production of the quintessential hippie musical with astounding success. "Hair" ranks as one of the best productions ever staged at the historic opera house. The energy generated by this holistic, organic ensemble is palpable from the moment one enters the Victorian opera house. The "tribe" of hippies has taken to the aisles and rows of the theater, interacting with the audience, burning incense and giving out flowers. The show also is a landmark for the Tibbits Summer Theatre being the first appearance of African-Americans on the stage in many years, and it's a welcome sight. As Ronny (Lee Hollis Bussle) croons the famous strains of "Aquarius" and the tribe gathers on stage for the opening, the best aspect of this production is immediately and firmly established: the singing and music and that's as it should be. With a rock 'n' roll score numbering more than 30 tunes, the music is the sun around which the hippies orbit and this cast and rock band perform the music expertly and beautifully. The quality of the musical performances is quite a relief because some of the acting just doesn't measure up. The two main, male characters Berger (Lars Valdor Haglund) and Claude (Beau Hutchings) lack the kind of raw sexuality and charisma needed for their roles. There's an electricity missing, especially with Claude, who has big shoes to fill given the people, such as John Savage, who have played the role before. Hutchings has a beautiful voice but his attempts at a British accent are wildly inconsistent and inaccurate. Berger works the audience well and is much more successful at transforming his own characteristics to match the role than his counterpart, but he also lacks the chemistry and presence needed to make the role attack the consciousness like a contact high. Haglund exudes radiant talent but never achieves the goal of "irreverent free spirit" as the character has been described. But the flaws created by the two main men are saved by their amazing vocal work. Additionally, the two main women Jeanie (Tiffany Wiesend) and Sheila (Lindsey Spencer) belt out their songs with terrific power. The ensemble cast also adds to the fantastic music performances, though the standouts are too many to mention here. Though called plot-less, if there is a plot, it involves Claude being drafted but unable to follow his peers in burning his draft card in defiance of the government's laws. The only other plot to speak of concerns romantic entanglements: Sheila loves Berger but is carrying Claude's baby, Jeanie is hung up on Claude but carrying "some speed freak's" baby and Berger is just not willing to commit or be tied down by anyone. Production aspects are pretty solid all through the show. Direction by Raymond Gabica shows extensive attention to detail and masterful organization of the free-flowing cast. Choreography is at times astounding and inventive, though it fails the show in "I Got Life," but improves dramatically with "Get Down," "Hair," and the Act One-concluding orgy "Where Do I Go?" Though excellent overall, at times, the choreography reverts to a static inactivity that may be as much due to the lack of trained dancers in the company as lack of choices by the choreographer. Given that the show promotes drug use and is very graphic about sex in language as well as movement and costumes (or the shedding of them), Tibbits is taking a great chance staging a show that could offend its core audience. And yet, people underestimate and mistake what the elder generations want to see and can handle. Still, Tibbits should attract a younger set with its staging of the show that most epitomizes the hippies and their summer of love. As one of the best musicals ever staged in Coldwater, this is must-see theater for the 2009 summer of love revival. . --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Sixties-L" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sixties-l?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
