Hair

Late last year the creative young things around Perth were excitedly sharing the gossip that WAAPA (now) Third Year Musical Theatre Students had been told not to cut their tresses or remove body hair over the summer as the first production for 2014 was to be Hair.  

A little over three months later people hoping to check out the traditional photos of the graduating class in the WAAPA foyer, will find a notice saying that head shots will appear when the cast are looking less organic.

Hair looks and sounds fabulous. To match the luscious locks and full beards, costume designer Georgia Metternick-Jones has produced an excellent 1967 wardrobe and Hair is presented on a playground designed by set designer Hannah Metternick-Jones, reminiscent of many I remember in the early seventies. I noted that costumes and set had a very similar feel, and a quick google search reveals that the designers are not only related, but twins.

Music, under the care of Head of Musical Theatre, David King, had the precision we expect from a WAAPA production. The eight-piece band played from behind a backdrop and the balance was good. Choreography, by director Tanya Mitford, felt free and spontaneous but was obviously impeccably formulated.

The nudity for which Hair is famous or infamous was there, but not at the "traditional" point in Act One. The cast stripped down during the 'bad trip' of the second act, lending a different feeling and purpose for the nudity. It was subtly directed and bravely handled by the young cast, and the nudity added to the vulnerability and the humanity explored during this scene. The issue of race was less obvious than in some productions, possibly because there was limited racial diversity in the cast.

WAAPA Third Year make a superb tribe and showed a plethora of talent. The central characters were brilliantly played. Berger was powerfully played by Daniel Berini, while Claude's conflict and confusion was captured well by Du Toit Bredenkamp. Lyndon Watts was both charming and strong as Hud. Stephen Madsen also stood out as Woof.

Eloise Cassidy was an almost ethereal Jeannie, and Sophie Stokes' Sheila was a force to be reckoned with. Shannen Chin-Quan was a delicate Chrissy whose song 'Frank Mills' was a quiet highlight.

This was a really strong and well received incarnation of Hair. Much of the charm of this production came from the inter-relationship of the tribe, which had a palpable unity and lovely strength. This is another very strong cohort from WAAPA who are going to be recurring features in our national casts in the years to come.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Jon Green