Friday, May 01, 2009
Emily tackles some Salem memories of 'Hair'
Walter Robinson sporting "Hair."— Emily Paine Carter, special to So Salem
Emily Paine Carter is columnist So Salem. You can contact her at 981-3430 or via e-mail.
Emily Paine Carter
Recent columns from Salem, Glenvar and western Roanoke County
Today's topic might seem flung far from our town -- sometimes affectionately termed "Mayberry." But it has a local tie.
Do you miss Mill Mountain Theatre? Other venues remain in Greater Salem: Showtimers, etc.
But maybe you'll head out of town to "play." Oddly, after a 10-year hiatus, I trekked to theatrical wonderland New York twice in five months.
The play in question? A 1960s flashback: "Hair." Perhaps you heard National Public Radio's story, or saw Katie Couric's recent "CBS Sunday Morning" and newscast "Hair" pieces (shameless pun; sorry).
Maybe such reports prompted readers to ask if my winter NYC trip included the lively musical and visiting Salem native Rev. Brad Braxton's amazing church.
To split hairs (sorry, really): No. Well, not both on THAT particular trip. But five months earlier I did attend Central Park's free, "sold-out" 40th anniversary reincarnation of the "American tribal love-rock musical."
Now, before you get your, uh, dander up: yes, the play has its shocks. But it's also a powerful celebration of Life. Why, Mary Baldwin College students even used one song in a chapel service, circa 1968. (Readers with a long memory -- OK, maybe just my mama -- might recall a Thanksgiving 2004 column quoting "I Got Life" lyrics.)
That chapel service sparked my four-decade curiosity: why the fuss? MBC dorm-pal "C.A." Richardson blared the soundtrack daily on a turntable (remember those?). Confession: I loved the tunes, but naughty lyrics flew right past my naive little Mayberry head.
Mind, Salem schools enforced strict "hair" rules then: barely shaggy Andrew Lewis High School boys were suspended until shorn.
Yet "Hair" played here! Legendary retired Salem/ALHS teacher Walter Robinson and three other Emory-&-Henry grads attended (1969, he guessed).
"The BIG issue of discussion," he emailed, "was that in little ole Salem, nudity was kept in the rock opera and NOTHING [negative was] said or written days afterward. My friends were proud of Salem! By the way, one of the friends was a member of the clergy!"
(At press time they debated sites: Salem or Roanoke Civic Center. Do you recall? I'd moved far away.)
Walter immediately bought the album. He's worn his hair long ever since, he laughed.
The four pals -- older and more worldly than I -- likely understood all lyrics.
Ted Neely (permanent "Jesus" in "Jesus Christ Superstar"), Melba Moore and Diane Keaton were original cast members. Milos Forman's movie had a different ending, Twyla Tharp's choreography and some gasp-worthy cinematography.
"Hair" is back on Broadway. But I liked the Central Park version: the setting for the scruffy characters anyhow.
And, ahem, this rumor is true: I did dance the joyful finale on stage with the cast. Clothed, all! Even so, "it's a good thing" -- as proper Martha Stewart says -- that no photos exist. (If something turned up on YouTube -- well, what would Mama say?)
