Act 1 and Act 2 synopsis written by Tracy Harris, taken from the HAIR Pages
THE YOUTH OF TODAY ENTER THE THEATRE LOOKING, SEARCHING, IN NEED OF A CONNECTION
TO GIVE PURPOSE TO THEIR LIVES. OUT OF THIS NEED, "CLAUDE" IS BROUGHT BACK FROM THE
PAST AND ONCE AGAIN WE ARE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO RELIVE THE WORLD OF HAIR.
THE TRIBE SINGS "AQUARIUS" AS "HUD" AND "JEANNIE" PLACE THE CERIMONIAL BEADS AROUND "CLAUDE'S"
NECK. THE REBIRTH IS COMPLETE. IF WE DON'T LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES,
WE ARE FORCED TO RELIVE THEM
Berger introduces himself, and sings about "Donna," his lost love. The Tribe follows this number with "Hashish,"
while Woof pays homage to all things sexual with "Sodomy." Hud enters, hanging upside down from a pole, and
sings "Colored Spade."
Finally, Claude introduces himself ("Manchester, England") and says, "I'm Aquarius--destined for greatness or
madness." The Tribe follows with "I'm Black" and "Ain't Got No." They add to the list of their "can't do's" with
"Dead End."
Sheila, the politically active NYU student, is carried in to a fanfare while she sings, "I Believe in Love." She leads
the Tribe in a peace rally ("Ain't Got No Grass," "Air"). Jeanie, who sings "Air" with friends Dionne and Crissy,
reveals that she's pregnant (by some "speed freak") but she's in love with Claude. The Tribe sings "Initials." Berger
then announces, "This, folks, is the psychedelic Stone Age."
Claude is confronted by three sets of "parents" (played by the Tribe) who batter him with their Work Ethic,
American Values, and tell him his Vietnam draft notice has come in the mail. A conflict between "1968 and 1948"
ensues ("I Got Life," "Ain't Got No," reprise).
Later, Berger tells the Tribe about Claude having to go before the draft board. Berger has also just been expelled
from high school ("Goin' Down") and is attacked by three Hitler-esque "principals."
Claude returns, having passed his Army physical. Berger, Woof, and Hud try to develop ideas for freeing him
from service in Vietnam. Claude burns his draft card, but the Tribe discovers that in fact it's his library card. A
woman and her husband (tourists in a land of hippies) talk to the group. Claude, Berger, and the rest of the Tribe
sing "Hair" for them. The woman, impressed, responds with "My Conviction," and then reveals that she is not a
"she" at all, but a transvestite!
Sheila joins the group, and she's still "spreading the groovy revolution." She talks about how she lives with Claude
and Berger, and takes out a yellow satin shirt she's brought for Berger. Berger begins to fool around--"slapping"
her, stomping on the shirt, and yelling. Claude and Sheila try to quiet him by covering his head with the shirt when
Berger snatches it away from them and rips it. Sheila, upset by this, sings "Easy to Be Hard." Berger takes the
shirt and leaves to sew it back together. Claude and Sheila talk, and he gets her to admit that she's "hung up" on
Berger.
Berger and Woof then give their musical salute to the American flag ("Don't Put it Down").
It's time for the Be-In! "Tourists . . . come to the orgy!" Jeanie tries to get together with Claude, but he rebuffs
her. She is about to follow him to the Be-In when she spies Crissy. Crissy says that she's staying there, to wait for
"Frank Mills." Back at the Be-In, the Tribe is singing "Hare Krishna" and getting high on love, life, and pot.
Claude, about to burn his draft card, suddenly changes his mind ("Where Do I Go").
The police intervene and "arrest" the audience--signaling intermission.
Total running time of the show is 120 minutes including one 15 minute intermission
