REVIEW: HAIR at the Sheffield Lyceum until Saturday

With flares, flowers and headbands a-plenty — including such items sported by members of the audience — the show has burst on to the stage at the Lyceum as part of its 50th anniversary tour.

I told a couple of people that I was going to see HAIR and they both mentioned the element of the show which was more than a little shocking when it was first staged, the full nudity on display.

And yes, the cast do shed their clothes at one point, but it is tastefully done.

Half a decade ago, legally-sanctioned theatre censorship in Britain was abolished and immediately after this the Broadway musical opened in London.

But the show, with music by Galt MacDermot and book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, is more than just a flower power-inspired love-in of a musical setting out to shock.

Written while the Vietnam War was being fought and set in 1967, the show revolves round a group of hippies who are strongly opposed to the conflict and follows the story of Claude, powerfully played by Paul Wilkins, who has received his draft card.

Love stories as well as political activism are played out with Maeve Black’s psychedelic set and costumes adding impressive colour and the accompanying musicians are on the stage itself.

The show is mainly songs, including hits such as Aquarius, Ain’t Got No, Good Morning Starshine and Let The Sun Shine In, with a fairly minimal amount of dialogue.

But it is easy to follow the action and all the cast join in with energy and enthusiasm, including some striking dancing.

Last year’s Dancing on Ice winner Jake Quickenden as Berger adds cheeky humour to the show, as he strips down to a thong, and also demonstrates his impressive dancing skills.

All the cast have strong voices, particularly Alison Arnopp, who plays Jeanie, Kelly Sweeney as Crissy and Natalie Green in the role of Cassie.

The first half felt, as my fellow theatregoer said, “a bit subdued,” but the music and action got substantially livelier after the interval.

It would give too much away to reveal what Claude decides after being called up to the army, but the show rattles along to the finale — complete with audience participation - featuring a mixture of humour and pathos, particularly during a pageant shown as the young man hallucinates.

I had feared that the musical might seem a bit dated half a century after it was first shown, but I needn’t have worried — it still resonates today.

So get those flares on, put some flowers in your hair and head to the Lyceum before Saturday for an evening of energetic as well as thought-provoking entertainment.