Remarkable "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," Results in Extension of Engagement Thru MAY 12 at the Signature Theatre
By Sharon Kennedy
When I started out to see this production, the only Hedwig I knew was the Hedwig, an owl, that belonged to Harry Potter. Well this Hedwig is distinctly different. Though, to tell you the truth there are glimpses into child abuse in both "Harry Potter" series of books with Harry's owl Hedwig and in John Cameron Mitchell's off-Broadway musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch."
Stephen Trask contributed the music and lyrics to John Cameron Mitchell's text of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," an off-Broadway Rock musical in which Mitchell originated the role of Hedwig. Then, John Cameron Mitchell wrote, directed and starred in the movie of the same name.
Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your view, I really am unable to recall word for word any of the lyrics or tunes to the rock to punk, the county to ballads sung by "Hedwig," a Drag-Rock-Queen in a Cabaret like setting. It is only after I return home and have time to recall the scenes, Hedwig's [ Rick Hammerly, as Hedwig ] conversations, and vaguely the tunes, that I piece together the events. I really believe this happens because the tunes are strung together to serve as a story. So, such tunes frequently lose power and work at odds with the plot instead of propelling it along.
Still, the cast-- Rick Hammerly as Hedwig; Lynn Filusch as Yitzak; The Angry Inch (Band); Michael Kozemchak as Jacek; Steve McWilliams, as Skszp; Matthew Midgette as Krzyzhtoff; Stephen Gregory Lee Smith as Harre; and Starz Vander Lockett as Schlatko--overcome the shortcomings. They all have tremendous and memorable stage showmanship.
Somehow in today's reality of human strife and suffering and in the fantasy of movies and musicals, the "Harry Potter with his Hedwig, an owl," and "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," survive their suffering.
"Hedwig," in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," has his beginning in Berlin, Germany before the fall of the Berlin wall. His mother, Hedwig named him Hansel, as in "Hansel & Gretel." Two cabaret style songs portray Hedwig's life in Berlin, behind the Berlin wall--"The Origin of Love" and "Angry Inch." Hansel's mother hated her son's music. So he put the radio inside the oven and rested his head on the oven grill while he listened to the music he loved. At that, I really have flash-backs to the story of Harry Potter, when Harry lived in the windowless closet under the staircase. That was before he acquired his owl "Hedwig." So I imagine, you will find the circumstances, under which Hansel (later Hedwig in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch") listened to his music inside an oven, believable.
The only childhood story Hedwig recalls his mother telling him is the one of Plato's Origin of Love. Illustrations flash on the wall as Hedwig tells that according to Plato, humans were once two-headed, four-armed, four-legged creatures, split apart by Zeus. They were doomed to wander the world in search of our missing halves. From that point on Hedwig is constantly searching for his other half so that he can reconnect with that half. Naturally, he perceives this reconnection happening through the act of sex.
Somehow, I remember childhood stores like "Make Way for Ducklings," " The Cat in the Hat (Seuss Series)," " Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass," and stories like that, not Plato's Origin of Love. So Hansel had a pretty unusual mother.
The scenes about how Hansel became Hedwig are an equal mix of history (need to escape from East Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall) and fiction (the way he chose to escape to America. To escape, Hansel and his mother chose an unusual marriage and flight from East Berlin. In part, to use his mother's passport, he has a sex-change operation, which the surgeon botches. Naturally, there is a song, "Angry Inch."
Once in America, Hedwig pursues fame, fortune, revenge and love. Rather than tell you how Hedwig finds fame, fortune, revenge and love in America, I'll let you find out for yourself.
-------------------------Now at the Signature Theatre----------------------------------
Directed by Eric Schaeffer
Musical Direction by Jon Kalbfleisch
Set Design by James Kronzer
Lighting Design by Chris Lee
Costume Design by Anne Kennedy"
Sound Design by Tony Angelini
Production Stage Manager Scott San Martin
Technical Director Eric Grims
Production Manager Lee Wilkinson
THE CAST
Hedwig Rick Hammerly
Yitzak Lynn Filusch
The Angry Inch (Band)
Michael Kozemchak
Steve McWilliams
Matthew Midgette
Stephen Gregory Lee Smith