A product of the hippie counterculture and sexual revolution of the late s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement. The musical's profanity, its depiction of the use of illegal drugs, its treatment of sexuality , its irreverence for the American flag , and its nude scene caused much comment and controversy. Hair tells the story of the "tribe", a group of politically active, long-haired hippies of the " Age of Aquarius " living a bohemian life in New York City and fighting against conscription into the Vietnam War. Claude, his good friend Berger, their roommate Sheila and their friends struggle to balance their young lives, loves, and the sexual revolution with their rebellion against the war and their conservative parents and society. Ultimately, Claude must decide whether to resist the draft as his friends have done, or to succumb to the pressures of his parents and conservative America to serve in Vietnam, compromising his pacifist principles and risking his life. Since then, numerous productions have been staged around the world, spawning dozens of recordings of the musical, including the 3 million-selling original Broadway cast recording.
The American director, Mr Tom O'Horgan, is patient with reporters but a bit sick of explaining why some of the cast take off all their clothes at the end of act one. When he came through immigration at London Airport they asked him what was he going to do, and he said, "Direct a play. Yesterday Mr O'Horgan said really it was a very small part of the play.
The musical includes a nude protest scene, which will be a historical moment for the community theater. The cast recently discussed how this hippie-era production, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, continues to be relevant. The show that once defined everything new and revolutionary is approaching senior citizen status.