HAIR in RED Bank, NJ
Hi,
Saw the show last night. One of the best HAIRS I have seen in a long time. Jim Rado, Nina,Trevor, Annie, Natasha, Robert, Debbie and Mike were joined by Tioga Joe We had a great time. Fun was had by all. Our only regret is that it has one more week to run so not all of you can see it
Peace and Love,
Michael
This entry was posted on Sunday, September 10th, 2006 at 2:59 PM and filed under Uncategorized. Follow comments here with the RSS 2.0 feed. Skip to the end and leave a response. Trackbacks are closed.
Dear Michael (et al.),
I second your e-motion.
And what a treat it was for me to have been included in the party that included our Jim Rado, “Little Birdie” Nina and Trevor and their wonderful Annie, and beautiful Natasha, dear Robert, sweet Debbie, and the magnificent Mike of the Blaxillville Mikes (or something like that ! ; ), and our dear Angel, the Silver Indian himself, you, my Mister Butler, our dear Michael.
[okay, okay, enough with the ass kissing, Joe, get on with your point!]
So, I saw the show again this afternoon (Sunday, September 10, at 3PM). Like that home-cooked dish that tastes better the second day after it’s been reheated, Mr. D’Amato’s HAIR was better the second time ’round. I’ve a sneaking suspicion, it will only continue to get better with each staging.
But that brings up the sad note that you mentioned, Michael, your regret that this HAIR has only one more week to run. …
Anthony D’Amato, more than just an able artistic director, IMHO, he GETS HAIR. He groks HAIR [refer to Heinlein’s “Stranger in a Strange Land” if you’re unfamiliar with the term “grok”]. He’s the kind of young director HAIR needs, if we’re looking for assurance that the essentials of HAIR (according to our HAIR-Head tastes) will continue through successive generations. I nominate Anthony to no less than the rank (should there be one) of HAIR Head (’cause he’s got one good head for HAIR (again, IMHO).
Sorry. Got off on a tangent. I was referring to the regret of the short planned run. I’ve got another title for Anthony — Pusher. And the song was right: “God damn the Pusher Man.” Anthony slips me a little sample of his product, and … BAM! I’m hooked. Gotta come in for another fix. I’d not be surprised to find I’ll be submitting commentary for each of the remaining 3 shows. But it’s going to hurt so much, thanks for his hooking me, when this show ends and will be seen no more. You get me used to this fix, and then, what do you do? Please, please, please, “don’t Bogart that joint, my friend.”
This is a HAIR I can live with (good thing it’s so close to my Jersey Shore home!).
Okay, sorry to make this diatribe any longer, but I would like to share with you a beautiful moment I spied in this afternoon’s HAIR at the Count Basie Theatre. It happens during “Frank Mills.”
I’m seated 2nd row from the stage, 2nd seat from the end, at the audience’s far right, or at the down stage corner of stage left. The beautiful (and I mean like Ann Margaret in her heyday beautiful) Kristin Contrino, playing the beautiful “Chrissy,” was singing (quite ably, I might add) “Frank Mills” from the opposite side of the stage from me (stage right), as far downstage as possible. I’m looking over at her, digging her rendition of a HAIR song near and dear to my heart, and I notice something behind her. In the wings (I’ve a clear shot from my location through the wings, stage right), …
I witnessed a dance.
A most beautiful dance.
A couple.
Young man.
Young woman.
Making the Astaires proud.
A couples interpretive dance they danced
(like making love
(to the music!)
And I realized
They were not onstage
(IMHO, they should have been! It was a wonderful complement to that beautiful little song!) —
I had witnessed a rather
Private
Moment
Between to Tribe members
Truly
Grooving to the Muse.
And, later, I learned from Anthony that he purposefully let the wings open to view, so there COULD be such “stolen moments,” such impromptu HAIR-ish happenings, just for sitters sitting in just the right seats (as was mine this afternoon). My compliments to the man. Good call. Good call. It worked for me!
Peace,
Tioga
Posted on 10-Sep-06 at 6:46 pm | PermalinkBeats the hell out of me how one can edit his own response to someone else’s blog, so, I’ll just “mail” this in: I’m not an idiot. The word’s spelled “two” not “to” in my not about the dancers in the wings, … the “rather private moment between TWO Tribe members ….”
And, later, Anthony “purposefully LEFT the wings open to view” (not merely “let”).
So, sorry ’bout the typos (not to mention ’bout this anal-retentive-like letter to try to correct my errors — I’d a done it all behind the scenes, if I knew where the edit button was.
Technically challengedly yours,
Posted on 10-Sep-06 at 7:01 pm | PermalinkThat Joe from Tioga
Michael,
A truly beautiful experience to share an evening with you, Jim, Nina, Trevor, Annie, Natasha, Tioga Joe, Robert, Debbie, and Mike… pre-show, post-show, and during the show. The joy you all brought to our faces, and the joy we brought to your faces… what an incredible night.
I’m so thankful to be a part of this family, and I’m looking forward to the future. You’ve got me forever!
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 1:06 am | PermalinkTioga Joe – I sent you a response on your other post, as well. I just can’t thank you enough. I’m overwhelmed with this weekend, and the love that was brewing non-stop. We’re sending out a message and it’s being heard (nearly 2000 this weekend alone!)… yet the struggle still continues!!!
3 more performances to go… T-Joe, or anyone else… please let me know if you plan on coming back, and I’ll walk you in with me!
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 1:12 am | PermalinkWhy did I say Natasha? (we have a tribe member named Natasha…) Totally meant Natalie! Loved spending time with you!
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 1:56 am | PermalinkWell, actually I have been known to call Natalie Natasha with some regularity, so perhaps you are just psychic? 🙂
I wanted to add my voice to the throng singing the praises of Anthony and his Red Bank production of Hair. If there is any way that any of you can make it there please do. It is one of the very best productions of Hair that I have seen in a very, very long time, and EJ Marotta is, by far, the very best Berger I have seen since they closed the doors at The Biltmore Theatre on July 1, 1972. Also worthy of mention are their Sheila Jillian Tully, Jamal Sawab as Hud (outstanding!)Kelli Marone (Abe Lincoln) and an entire Tribe that was amazing – each one good enough to have played a lead. Amazing voices. One of the things that Anthony has done is hire rock and R&B singers who can act, rather than actors who can sing. This was often how it was done on Broadway, and it makes all the difference in the world. The wonderfully named Jet Dragon sings so well that she made me ADORE Hippie Life, a song that those of you who know me know has not always been my favorite. 🙂 I would have happily had her sing it twice in a row. Anthony also placed it between I Got Life and Going Down, the best placement for it I have seen. And special mention must be made of Anthony himself, who appeared onstage to sing a beautiful What A Piece of Work is Man. Not only can the boy direct, but he can sing like an angel. I am tempted to name each individual Tribe member, as they are each deserving of the individual aclaim that I have given a few here, but will spare you all the list. If they are here reading this please know that you were each and every one of you OUTSTANDING. I wish I could go back next weekend.
Yes, Anthony D’Amato gets Hair – his Hair is gritty, and in your face. It is sexual, high energy, and sweaty. The Tribe is all over the theater, outside when you get there, inside before the show, during the show. And in an age of cynicism and people who have seen it all, Anthony somehow managed to make Hair fresh enough again that he even freaked a few people out enough that they left! Bravo!
Thank you Anthony, and your entire Tribe, for the wonderful Hair experience we had Saturday night, and for your welcoming spirit which made us all feel at home immediately. If I didn’t have my mother-in-law visiting this coming weekend we would be back. Come to think of it, she has never seen Hair….;-)
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 5:02 am | PermalinkLove
Nina
I’m there with you, Nina, backing every word and imagining even more words to our singing of praise of a true PHOENIX with HAIR, the magnificent HAIR of Anthony D’Amato and Company (and TRIBE), staged at the historic Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, Monmouth County [there’s also one in Gloucester County, it seems), Noo Joisey, USofA (and as coined in New Jersey, “Born in the USA.”):
Me? Well, at the moment (11:45AM EDT, Monday, 09.11.2006CE), at home (“Down the [Jersey] Shore” — OG/AP, NJ, USA) [and if you have to ask the question, if you haven’t figured it out yet, the answer is … “Yes”], I’m groovin’ to the sounds (on CD) of the Original Israel Cast of HAIR (2002 NMC Music Ltd. ISRAEL), and I’m trying to keep from crying, as the sweetest soprano starts singing in “Flesh Failures” (it was either Zvika Pick or Margalit Ankori; since my reading of Hebrew is extremely limited, my reading of the liner notes [written in Hebrew] is extremely limited, which, BTW (and we’re still talking about the liner notes here), opens and reads … in the Hebrew Way (as does the CD case! It’s funny the first time you try to open it your regular way — it opens backwards! At least “backwards” to all us Goyim out there! : ) … “Oy vey, Wot’s a mudder to do?” —
[Oh, oh, Anthony. On a side note: I missed that “Oy vey!” I heard the “What’s a mother to do?” It sure as hell ain’t necessary, but I DO get a kick out of hearing it — particularly, it would be fitting with your HAIR, with your having that superb “Mom” character your Tribe kicked up — the “Mom” in the green coat doing the Jewish-mother schtick. She did it superbly. I saw in her, rather, she brought to my mind) my son’s “bobi” (pronounced “bubby” and it’s Yiddish for grandma). Yes, perhaps shes’ a caricature, emphasizing stereotypes, but damned if it ain’t well-grounded into reality! And, I’m sure, rather than being offensive to, … say, … Jews in general, I’d wager, dear Anthony, that your [Jewish] “Mom’s” presentation would (should) be found endearing to any who have ever had a “Jewish Mother” in their lives. Good call, Phoenix Tribe.
[Which brings me to another point, dear Athony, what IS the name of your Red Bank HAIR Tribe? Have you claimed one? If you have, I’ve missed any mentioning thereof (chalk it up to ADD, PTSD, and perhaps one more three-letter … Initial). Who shall we know and call you by (your Tribe, that is)? “Phoenix” would give a nod to your production company, but it might too easily mislead readers into thinking your Tribe’s stomping grounds are in central Arizona rather than a mere commuter’s distance in Jersey from the Big Apple. “Red Bank” is … well, … okay, but …. I’m thinking, … what about … “Navesink” — the Navesink Tribe. What else would the Indians have called themselve who once lived along the RED BANK on the Navesink River? White guys surely named the river for the red guys already living on the land (yeah, the land the white guys would steal from the red guys, and then to protect it would send off the black guys to kill off the yellow guys, right?)
Anyhoo, who really cares what you’re called? You (THAT Tribe) are still … cool as hell.]
Oh, Nina, thanks for mentioning their “Hippie Life.” Oh, so SHE is the “Jet Dragon” I saw listed in the cast! She was SO perfect for leading that song! I instantly fell in love with her, imagiing that actress is really that Earth goddess she depicted singing that song. And, yes, the song’s placement (as was the movement and sound on stage that led to it) was perfect! It was snuck right in and very naturally, most fluidly grooved into the full blossoming of the song. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I have ever witnessed this newer HAIR song, where it didn’t FEEL like it was merely a plugging-in somewhere (almost obligatorily) of this new song, to keep up with the updating of HAIR. Here, in Red Bank, it happened. It worked. It was a natural fit, it didn’t jar me (like the first time you heard the new songs added to Jesus Christ Superstar [“Could We Start Again, Please”] and Godspell [“Beautiful City”]. Jim, Jim Rado, I think Anthony did your work good. I felt, at his HAIR, “Hippie Life” has truly been welcomed into the home of HAIR. Cheers!
Hi, Natalie. I was honored by your company Saturday night. Thanks. And, you know, I’d have to admit, “Natasha” does come to mind at times! : ) Maybe I see as you that svelte black-haired beauty who used to hang around bad-guy Boris thwarting the good-guy efforts of Bullwinkle Moose and Rocky Squirrel. Maybe. : )
Anyway, Natalie, that Israeli Cast album? THAT is why I now opt for “CE” (or “Common Era”) over “AD” (or “Anno Domini” or “In the year of The Lord”) (as per our earlier discussion).
I forgot to mention. Their HAIR (the Israelis’) is sung entirely in Hebrew! (‘cept apparently “Gliddy glup gloopy” looses very little in translation! : )
As I feel confident that Anthony D’Amato’s HAIR is an effective interpreter (in the history museum sense) of HAIR in THIS neck of the woods, so must I imagine was/is the Israeli HAIR. They WILL infect others in the Middle East with the HAIR virus, the move towards peace. I yearn for the success of HAIR in Arabic dialects. The HAIR pen is one mighty sword. Peace will come. Let it begin with me. (Yadda, yadda, yadda)
And, that, my dear ‘Tasha, Natasha, the incomparable Natalie, is why I yield to the more inclusive “CE” in my datings. We have powerfully effective HAIR Tribers in Israel. They live in my same time, but they might not be so inclined to pay homage to a Lord not of their choosing. To stand adamant to the use of “AD” reflects a sense of superiority over all other faiths (and “counter” faiths). MY tribe is larger than the one delineated by ascribers to the Jesus solution (and I’m a baptised Southern Baptist, BTW, about as hard-core, Fundamentally Christian as you can get; and I paid attention in Sunday School, so I’m not talking out of my ass about this). ‘Twon’t refute it’s validity (Christianity’s), but neither will I refute the validity of other defined “Ways.” ‘Twon’t also deny the blatant Jesus references in HAIR — there’s a VERY Christian thing going on. But that would be the family background of Bukowski and Berger (and certainly Woof!) A lot of very-Christian boys lost their religion on the battlefields of Vietnam (they saw themselves doing anything BUT “doing God’s work”). Time transcends the politics of religion. “Common Era” acknowledges that.
Which brings me to “Beefy” (that statement above about the GIs in Vietnam), “Brother Beefy,” the Navasink Tribe’s VVAW-representative character (that’s Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Inc.), nicely (and appropriately [IMHO] understatedly) portrayed by Jay Giberson (who was also John Wilkes Booth, and the gung-ho Army recruiter admonishing the hippies that they ought be sent to “the Vietnam meat-grinder”). I particularly like this character, Bro’ Beefy. Historically, the ORGANIZED Peace/Anti-War Movement was begining a nose-dive as the Sixties began turning into the Seventies, this due in part to inner turmoil among the organizers, such as Sheila Franklin’s beloved SDS (Students for a Democratic Society). The resurgance came with the influx of Vietnam Veterans, home from the war, speaking against the war with the clout of first-hand experience with the war itself. Operation Dewey Canyon III in Washington, DC, and Operation RAW (Rapid American Withdrawal), the march of VVAWers through New Jersey, following General Washington’s line of march to Valley Forge, where the “Winter Soldiers” stayed on to fight (in the absence of “the sunshine soldiers” who’d split long ago), these were shots heard ’round the world announcing this new and strong voice on the stage, the anti-war WARRIORS. The VVAWers called themselves “The New Winter Soldiers,” the modern era American citizen-soldiers who will continue to fight for the ideals of the American Revolution, only with the absence of guns — hence the symbolism of their breaking their rifles and throwing their medals back to the White House — “Ain’t gonna study war no more / Ain’t gonna study war no more.”
This, I see in “Beefy.” And Claude would have had more conversations with him (about the War) than Brandon’s characterization of him has projected thus far (tho’ I sense Brandon’s on the threshold of truly embracing “Claude”). Claude [this is my unsolicited two-cents worth to Brandon Straka], no doubt, has even MORE trepidation about accepting his assigned induction into the American Armed Forces, since his encounters with this vet, going by the handle of “Brother Beefy.”
Here is the combat veteran home from the war. He probably was a volunteer (like Ron Kovic, Viet vet author of the autobiographical “Born on the Fourth of July”), gung-ho like John Wayne in “The Sands of Iwo Jima,” wanting truly to “kill Commies for Christ” and happily use hippies as cannon fodder for his noble mission. But, like Kovic, Brother Beefy changed. He witnessed (and no doubt did) shit that was NOT part of the plan he’d bargained for. This was NOT a noble cause. This shit, this Vietnam War was FAR from noble. There’s stuff about it that’s just plain WRONG. And while it’s going on, our BROTHERS are being blown away coming and going. Ain’t fair. Ain’t fair. Ain’t fair. I don’t want to talk about it.
THAT’s the mind of Brother Beefy that he shares with Claude. And Claude pays attention, because he feels like he’s got this [Fundamentalist, Southern Baptist-style] “calling” to comply with the Draft and probably be sent off to … yeah, that “Vietnam Meat-Grinder.” And Beefy must be at odds about his feelings about Tribe leader Claude going off to war. Beefy KNOWS the horrible shit Claude’s going to have to face with war. He also knows that coming back home to America after war duty ain’t going to be no piece of cake for Claude, either (Beefy KNOWS he fell in with a RARE “gaggle” of hippies — these guys not only welcomed him, they encourage his BEING a Vietnam veteran, sporting the colors — the vest from a fatigue shirt with sleeves ripped off, the headband in lieu of a helmet or even a “boonie cap,” the aviator-framed sunglasses, typical of helicopter air crews (Beefy may well have been a Crew Chief on a Huey, serving as door gunner), but he does also wear colors that endear him to the Tribe, and for which they respect him, the colors of the VVAW (MACV means Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. General Wesmoreland wore the MACV patch on his shirt sleeve. Take that patch, remove the upturned sword of war, and replace it with the downturned rifle, planted in the ground with its fixed bayonet, with a helmet resting atop in on its shoulder butt — the universal symbol of “the fallen soldier,” the honored, yet too often unnecessary product of war. But Beefy also respects Claude’s leaning towards going. He sees in this part of Claude a little of that part of him that caused him to volunteer, to enlist, that … noble cause. Beefy respects Claude’s nobility. He believes Claude WILL go to Nam. But he hopes beyond hope that Claude will make it back alive. He’s had enough hurt, loosing brothers in that “dirty Asian war.” He doesn’t want to loose his new “brother,” Claude.
And this is why he spontaneously takes off his dog tags he’s worn all along, and gives them to Claude. Those dog tags got Beefy through Nam alive. Perhaps they can help bring Claude home alive, as well. When Brandon (as Claude) looked at the dog tags he was so surprised to find in his hands, I didn’t see so much his bonding with Beefy, as I saw the look of a GI in Nam, looking at the dog tags in his hand, that he’d just taken from the body of his best friend in Nam, the brother who’d crossed the protective boundaries into friendship, the brother who helped him through the insanity that was now their lot in life. Now, KIA in RVN (Killed In Action in the Republic of Vietnam, a name on The Wall in Wasington). Surely, when Claude bought the farm in Vietnam, there was a “brother” who wished he had the time to cry as he held in his hands the dog tags of his beloved comrade in arms, now The Fallen Soldier, Claude Hooper Bukowski of Flushing, New York. Claude’s look (Brandon’s look), to me, was a forshadowing of Claude’s own fate. THAT was why he was lost to expressing any gratitude or understanding of Beefy’s gesture. Any notion to do so was upstaged with Claude’s seeing his own demise. And wondering, would someone care about the name on the dog tags they pulled from his lifeless body? Would his death have … the right … meaning? Well played, Brandon. Well played. Your Claude is coming more alive to me.
Anyway, this has been Tioga Joe’s impression (a valuing thereof) of the Navasink Tribe’s Triber called “Brother Beefy,” the representative Vietnam-vet Tribe-member character.
And, as I understand, Jay Giberson came into the role (and into the play) only TWO WEEKS before opening night! Not bad, my man. Not bad.
BTW, I did also dig some other identifiable (at least in MY mind) Sixties (and Seventies) icons. There was (as I called him) “That ‘Seventies Show’ Guy.” There was “Bruce Springsteen Guy.” And there was Anthony himself doing, well, I saw it as a “Wavy Gravy Guy” doing the kind of hosterly stuff Wavy Gravy did at Woodstock ’69.
And yes, Nina, Anthony sang like an angel with “What a Piece of Work Is Man?” I believe Walter Michael Harris would be proud. I was surprised by the clarity of Anthony’s almost-falsetto, almost castradi-like tenor. Anthony, it was beautiful. And you were NOT Wavy Gravy then. Maybe you were the big Mother Bird in Claude and Berger’s Tribe. A sense of the sadness that oft must accompany unconditional love came through. It IS your heart, Anthony, that cries out, “Why must they try to end this beauty? Why must they try to end this beauty?”
With apologies to Mister Butler (and you, dear reader) if I went over any generally accepted limits of words and space here — but, that’s just what HAIR tends to do to me. Oh, that Hippie Life! : )
Erratically yours,
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 11:42 am | PermalinkDoktor Verbose
😉
Wow! It sounds like a wonderful production; so sorry I couldn’t be there (being on the other Coast makes it hard), but I’m smiling to think of Nina, Tioga, MB et al. having a wonderful time.
So what did you end up doing, Anthony, about the matter of the Supremes’ dress in White Boys?
Many congrats,
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 12:46 pm | PermalinkDoris
You see…that’s what ticks me off…timing this year has been awful. I’m living in Chicago now, and when I went to Red Bank to pick up the moving truck, I saw the marquis on the Count Basie Theater, and my heart sank — I couldn’t be in town for the first weekend, and this coming weekend I have to be in North Carolina. (And what REALLY sucks — here in Chicago on that same weekend, at the Old Town School of Folk Music, they were having a workshop on go-go dancing, and I was hoping my wife could attend; alas, she had to go back to New Jersey.)
I also knew that it was flea market weekend in Ocean Grove, whence I just moved and where Tioga still lives, and I know WMH often is in Ocean Grove during that time, and I was hoping he’d get to see that Hair production.
Anyway…thanks, all, for commenting on this. Sounds like it was really special.
And sorry I haven’t posted on this blog…it’s been a hectic few months since my transfer, and now that I’m finally officially in Chicago 100% (sort of), I can piece my life back together…(plus, I lost my password…)
Posted on 12-Sep-06 at 4:34 am | PermalinkThank you, everyone, for such kind words and all the love you have sent our way! It is important to Anthony and I that we HONOR those who came before us and the responses from you all are so inspiring and are an affirmation for us that our love of this piece shows and that we are on the right track! That’s everything.
For those of you who don’t know, Anthony and I are both Activists, who happen to do musical theatre! Aside from putting on a great rock show, it’s a dream come true to be able to have our(my) voice heard through such a medium.
Tioga Joe- You rock! Thanks so much for cheering us on again- you family now! Also, thank you for the ever poetic verse about the stolen moment of the 2 tribers during Frank Mills. As I was the “young woman” who was part of the couple “Making the Astaires proud”, I’m glad you felt what we were feeling! You are absolutely right: we were making love to the music! And what you witnessed felt amazing to me. Thanks for noticing!
On Brutha Beefy, his character started to blossom when in costume fittings. Our costumer Mama Linda put him in that army jacket and cut the sleeves off… she said “can he be a veteran, is that weird?” Mama Linda used to work with the VVAW during the Vietnam War and it meant a lot to her to have that be apart of our show. It was a bold move, as you can see from Joe’s analysis of how his character makes things different for Claude, and it’s beautiful. And Brutha Beefy did just join us 2 weeks before opening (he also happens to be an aspiring history teacher, something he really loves).
The Wavy Gravy reference to Skinny D (Anthony’s tribe name): hilarious! I have known Anthony since he was 16 and he so is Wavy Gravy in real life sometimes! Too funny!
Nina- After the 1st act on our Sunday mantinee we lost about a 1/4 of our audience. The Tribe was so worried. I told them all: the people who left are blind and dumb and will never hear our message. And that’s okay. Besides we had a lot more fun with out them! So it’s their loss, not ours.
And bring your Mother In-law! Maybe we can offend her too! LOL- Just kidding!
Thanks again everyone!
Posted on 12-Sep-06 at 10:56 am | PermalinkPeace & Love
Sophia
Dauber, my Man! Yes, I missed your being around to catch this HAIR in Red Bank. You would have been wowed.
I worked at the Vietnam War Era museum on Saturday, but, before I went to Red Bank to join the HAIR heads, I did a drive-through in Ocean Grove and past the Flea Market, just in case I could spy our HAIR friend Walter Michael Harris. I, too, thought he’d be there, and I wanted to make sure he knew about the Red Bank performance. But, alas, I didn’t see him.
I wish you and Lisa great happiness in your new home, Chicago.
And, Dori, sweet Dori (Sophia?), you, who so warmly welcomed me into your Tribe with a hug that made me melt. And ’twas no surprise you were the angel flying in the wings with that noble danceur! All you do seems only to endear me to you all the more!
And your Mama Linda, what a kind hostess she was to me, bringing me to sit with her a spell in that very spot where later, I looked ‘cross stage and saw your embracing through dance the sweet music of “Frank Mills” (but I think your mom had missed that beautiful scene, as she was off on duties).
And Kudos to Linda on the costuming, and, yes, IMHO, particularly, for fashioning who would become “Brutha Beefy.” I’ve seen no other HAIR include a Vietnam vet in its Tribe. I think it was an outstanding idea I hope catches on. It hints of a history we ought not forget — the organizing of war veterans to STOP that war!
Listen, the folks who left after Act I were all VERY senior citizens (the one next to me, though, I noticed tapping her fingers to the beat of the music throughout, so I think she was enjoying herself), and there WAS a cool draft right where your mom and I were sitting, and Linda said she overheard one of the folks complaining it was too cold for them, so, I wouldn’t think they were making a statement about their regard for the show; rather, I think their age just got the best of them.
Also, it made it even funnier, when in the Entre-Acte, a voice speaks out, “Hey Agnus, we saw the nude scene. Can we go home now?”
But, mainly, dear Dori, dear Sophia, dear ballerina of the shadows, I cherish the [certainly seemingly] genuine affection you gifted me with [and gotta put a similar plug in here for my Nubian Princess, Kelli, and even that cool rock-star boyfriend of hers, and [please name your dancing partner, so I can greet him by name next time], and everyone (well, at least MOST everyone) else in that fantastic, beautiful, and sexy Tribe (and vocally gifted to boot!).
I’ll see you and the rest for Friday’s HAIR, if not before. Please reserve me another hug.
HAIR-ily yours,
Tioga
Posted on 12-Sep-06 at 9:18 pm | PermalinkTioga- That would be Michael, tribe name: DohDoh. Can’t wait for the performances this weekend! Stay sweet!
Posted on 13-Sep-06 at 6:18 am | PermalinkPeace & Love
Sophia
(my tribe name, by the way)
Tioga,
Feel free to request more “affections” anytime you want! 🙂 Thank you so very much for being at the performances and most definitely, for being an inspiring presence for us all. Looking forward to seeing you Friday (and beyond). The incense ROCKED!
Love & Peace,
Lilith – Your Nubian Princess
Posted on 13-Sep-06 at 9:26 am | Permalink(Although, I’d like to think of myself as a GODDESS from time to time) smile
Dear Dori — “Sophia” fits so well the image in my mind’s eye of that ballerina in the shadows whom I saw, floating so effortlessy, entwining with the equally graceful, while still … masculine, danceur made manifest by Michael Hollingsworth, no “Doh Doh” at all! : ) I’ll remember his name — the Hollingsworth sons of Tioga were close friends of us Smith sons of Tioga (I learned only recently that our dads were best friends as teens, skipping school together to enlist in the Navy two years before Pearl Harbor). I feel like Michael and I are already cousins!
Oh, Dear Kelli, dear “Lilith — indeed a queen, a queen of … Egypt (but always still, my Nubian Princess! ; ) I’ll bring more incense. You bring your smile.
With love and hippyness to all,
Just some Joe from Tioga
Posted on 13-Sep-06 at 7:37 pm | Permalinki’m groovin on all this energy .. Tioga duude .. that’s the frickin longest post in Internet history 🙂
lotsa kudos to “Ant” and those Red Bank kids .. you had us at the pre-show!!
Posted on 14-Sep-06 at 6:25 pm | PermalinkHey, Mike Man. Yeah, took you three whole days to read the whole damn thing, eh? You know, some day I’m just going to have to read the book (“How to Make Your Point in 30 Seconds or Less”). But I keep hoping the movie will come out. Then I could just watch that! ; )
Saw HAIR tonight (interim rehearsal for tomorrow’s [Friday’s, Sept. 15] performance, following a 3-day break from their last performance, Sunday). Indeed it improves with age. If only it could have a longer life span (Navasink-Phoenix Tribe, we hardly knew ye). –And, BTW, I second your e-motion, Mister Blaxill, they had us at the pre-show. HAIR is alive and well and living on the streets (Monmouth Street) of Red Bank (on the Navasink River), New Jersey (“Down The Shore”).
Posted on 14-Sep-06 at 8:36 pm | Permalinkhere’s a cool link with pics from last Sat nite
http://www.myspace.com/dorilicious
thnks Dorilicious!
Posted on 15-Sep-06 at 9:27 am | PermalinkThanks to Mike for posting the myspace of Dorilicious and to her for creating it.
Love that picture of all of us together.
Peace and Love,
Posted on 15-Sep-06 at 10:19 am | PermalinkMichael
I apologise for TiogaJoe – out of sight at times
That is such a beautiful photo… we are a pretty group! I have put together a Kodak Gallery Photo Album for the whole Tribe to post their photos from the beginning of rehearsals to on and on. We are just getting them up so in a couple days, there will be all sorts of great shots! I’ll post back with the link when it’s ready.
Posted on 19-Sep-06 at 10:04 am | PermalinkLove you guys!
Peace
Sophia-Dorilicious
I am soo bummed I missed this production!! Sounds like an outasite show. Congrats to the Tribe!
PEACE,
Posted on 20-Sep-06 at 7:46 pm | PermalinkLeo