The score to 1968’s “Hair” is irreproachable. But the show itself always seems less so. That’s about true of the sixties, too—the music holds up just fine; it’s all that other pop-cultural paraphernalia that comes off like some sort of kitschy joke. If you’re going for earnestness, the time-capsule approach probably isn’t the best choice. That hasn’t stopped the young members of the Tonkawa Theatre Tribe, who have staged their revival with all the “Hair” clichés intact: the dirty hippies, the incense, the nudity and, yes, the hair. The end result brings to mind a really, really, really good high-school production. This is a talented, eager ensemble, but the production, under the direction of Danny Bernardo, is not particularly original or specific. There has to be some other way to do this material. Companies such as Sean Graney’s Hypocrites routinely craft their productions with an eye towards reinvention and innovation. If the Tonkawa Theatre Tribe truly wants to make a name for itself and stick around longer than a year or two, it might want to take a few notes. (Nina Metz)
Hair of the Dog: A Preview of Sean Flannery at Lincoln Lodge The Chicago-based comedian and storyteller is the creator and host of the popular weekly comedy show “Blackout Diaries” which focuses on drinking stories and "hilarious misadventures" people have had.
