Gimme a lotta ‘Hair’ — and some skin

Everett, get ready for the revival.

The rock musical “Hair” opens tonight at historic Everett Theatre for a month-long run.

It’s the 40th anniversary of “Hair,” the theater phenomenon subtitled “The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical.” It’s a period piece that will take audiences back to the 1960s, where the embryonic stage themes of loving the planet and the feminist movement had their start. Where racial bigotry got an early bashing. Where people challenged authority and questioned why we were at war.

It was also a time of rebellion. Dope-smoking. Unleashed sexuality. Nudity.

Everett’s production of “Hair” will have all that. The message of social injustice. The message of fighting against an unpopular war. The dope smoking is simulated, but the nudity is real.

And Everett is ready for it.

“Art reflects life,” said Pat Allegretti, a board member of New Everett Theatre, which manages historic Everett Theatre. “And in that this was pretty risky the first time it came out, I really thought we could take it.”

Allegretti supported staying true to the script of “Hair” and not changing the nude scene, or any scene, for that matter. She said that given the choice, she would have opted to not do “Hair” rather than deviate from the script.

“Don’t mess with it,” Allegretti said. “It’s almost libelous, messing with somebody’s work. It’s free speech and a piece of art that shouldn’t be tampered with.”

New Everett’s executive director Victoria Walker said Allegretti and the majority of the board supported being true to the authenticity of the production.

Walker said that the small nude scene and other controversial moments of the play should not overshadow the themes that carry through to today.

“I think we’re ready,” Walker said. “The message is so old and here we are again in 2007 with Iraq and some of what we’re going through today that parallels the themes of this show.”

Walker gave lots of credit to the cast, most of whom are newcomers to the stage, for performing a show like “Hair” that doesn’t have a linear plot but is a story of vignettes pieced together by songs. Those songs, “Aquarius,” “Let the Sunshine IN” and “Easy to be Hard,” are still popular today.

The cast is also brave for doing the nude scene.

“It takes a lot of courage to keep it true to the script, to be those young people who have never been on stage and are challenged with that and they are doing it,” Walker said. “I’m like a proud mommy because I think they are brave.”

The audience is being warned in various ways that the show has adult language and that parental guidance is suggested.

Walker emphasized that the nude scene should not be the focus of “Hair.”

“It’s about freedom and peace and the time of the 60s and civil rights and questioning authority,” Walker said. “It’s a period piece ,as opposed to something that is promoting drugs or sex. We aren’t saying that it’s acceptable, but within the context of the story, it’s understandable.”

The plot of the musical follows a group of politically active friends who call themselves “the tribe.” They are against the Vietnam War and dwell together in Bohemian fashion in a New York City apartment. Some of the characters include Claude; free-spirit Berger; Sheila, who is in love with both men; Woof, a bisexual; Jeanie, who is in love with Claude but pregnant by another man; Black Panther Hud, Crissy and Dionne. At one point in the show, the men receive a draft notice and hold a burning ceremony. Claude, however, goes off to war. The tribe must learn to release him.

Allegretti said she made the choice of seeing “Hair” in the 60s. She said people still have that choice today whether to see the show or not.

“If you don’t like that kind of thing, then don’t come,” Allegretti said. “I believe (New Everett Theatre) has things that are available for all tastes.”

Reporter Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 or goffredo@heraldnet.com

“Hair”

Opens at 8 tonight at historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. Shows at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 28. $30, $25 senior/student/military and $10 for youth 10 and under, 425-258-6766, www.everetttheatre.org.