A group of 20-somethings is performing "Hair" in Arlington, Massachusetts. I was invited to talk to them about the 1960's, to help them understand their characters and the time. I told them a very personal story that I'd never told anyone before – it's below the fold with links to pictures. I tried to get the factual details as accurate as possible, given conflicting accounts. Your mileage may vary on the subjective stuff.
I'm going to send the cast a link to this diary, so I encourage you to post your own stories or thoughts as comments. I left out a lot of important stuff (including the political assassinations & the civil rights struggle), since I had only 15 minutes. Perhaps the most significant thing I left out was the sense of hope in 1968 (at least in my & my wife's memories) that despite all of the ugliness, love & peace would prevail. Eventually they did, sort of, for a while, but there was a lot more ugliness first.
Finally, I encourage those living near to consider attending this show. From the rehearsal that I saw, they've captured the craziness & passion of the time. If anyone wants to contact me directly on this topic, feel free to email Hair@aranfell.com .
TheMeansAreTheEnd (formerly posting as Aranfell)
Read More