[Mb-hair] RE: No Black Actors

[richard haase]

you know its interesting bill
ive rarely ( if ever ) seen a bad production of HAIR
eg like my fair lady or the king and i
there is so much that is intrinsically good
it may be hard to do brilliantly because of all the elements
but i think its equally hard to do it badly
( at least thats my opinion )
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <swiggard at comcast.net>
To: <mb-hair at islandlists.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2005 11:33 AM
Subject: [Mb-hair] RE: No Black Actors


> Hi there Katie -
>
> I have been reading along in the background, but thought I would weigh in
> here.  First off, you should know that I am a HAIR Purist, with a strong
> preference for the version performed on Broadway in the Day (I played
> Claude in the Mercury National Tour 1971-72). I am 53 now, and I suppose
> turning curmudgeonish, but HAIR is very precious to me because it changed
> my life utterly and permanently.
>
> One of the moist extraordinary things about HAIR - then and now - is the
> sheer number of social and political issues it brings up. It was the
first,
> and in some ways remains the only Broadway show ever to touch on these
> things.  Most obviously there is the antiwar message brought on by the
> Vietnam quagmire - the central struggle in the show.  But HAIR was also
the
> first musiocal to talk about racism, racial stereotypes and black
militancy
> as a solution, with the black militant character presented as a real
person
> with emotions who explodes the stereotypes he plays with.  Not to mention
> the other messages of HAIR:  the Save the Earth message, sexual
liberation,
> gay and bisexual liberation, gender liberation, and dope as a Good Thing
in
> the right circumstances and a Bad Thing in others (Claude's Bad Trip, the
> crazy Speed Freak who knocks up Jeanie,etc.).
>
> There is nothing better as an evening of theater than a good production of
> HAIR.  There are few things more painful to watch than a bad production of
> HAIR, or a show that tries to do HAIR and falls short.  Which is not to
say
> that there is not room in my HAIR world for alternative ways of putting
the
> show on - but it must stun, amaze, overwhelm, and above all Rock Da House.
> Or else it ain't HAIR.
>
> I think HAIR without real, live African American actors is not HAIR. While
> I feel for you in the difficulty of casting, I think failing to get real
> African American people into the cast is a Deal Breaker that should lead
to
> cancellation.  I do not mean to sound sadistic or hard-hearted here. I
know
> about challenges and rising above them, which unforunately is something
> fate has handed you when you came up with the idea to put the show on.  I
> wish you a thrilling ride and a life changing experience, which as you
know
> HAIR was for many of us on this list. I wish you a real HAIR, a dazzling
> HAIR, done right.  We will all help in whatever way we can on this list
and
> in real life.
>
> We're rooting for you.  Keep trying.  You can do this.
>
> Peace, Love, Freedom, Happiness -
> Bill
>
> -----------------
> From: Katie Kasben katiekasben at hotmail.com
> Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2005 14:15:04 +0000
> To: mb-hair at islandlists.com
> Subject: RE: [Mb-hair] Re: No Black Actors
>
>
> You know,
>
> I think when I talk to some of the black leaders of our community I will
> get
> a better feel.  But, finding a solution on our own will hopefully motivate
> the black community to come out and play with us.  I mean, while they may
> not find the "whigger" idea as offensive, it may enough of a bur under the
> saddle to leave the protective, suspicious "no whites allowed" attitude.
>
> I'm not giving up.
>
> hm. it certainly would cause a stir...maybe that, ultimately, would be
good
> too!
> :)
> Love,
> Katie
>
>
> ALOHA NUI LOA!
>
>
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