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PLAY DC: Hedwig and the Angry Inch – LOVED IT!

June 9, 2009 by Cynthia

Fittingly, Hedwig’s run at the Warehouse is a short one. [Thank you, I’ll be here all week.]

Only four shows remain. So it’s with a heightened sense of urgency, earnestness and brevity that I recommend you go. If you liked the movie, you will LOVE this performance.

I walked in skeptical: (1) because I’m always skeptical and (2) because the idea of this over-the-top movie being translated into a small stripped down theater piece seemed interesting. Everything about the film is so outrageous, Hedwig’s story, the make-up, the costumes, the music, the animation. How could a tiny theater pull this off? And you know what? Warehouse does it seamlessly.

The play is staged as if you’re one of the tired diners at any one of the many dive establishments Hedwig plays while not stalking Tommy Gnosis. This night, Tommy is playing at the Verizon Center down the street. You can hear the rumble of the arena and his stage banter, which continually aggravates Hedwig, “the internationally ignored song stylist standing before you.” They tailor the show to D.C. with political humor: “‘Change’ isn’t exactly the best campaign slogan for reelection, now is it?” It’s all really quite brilliant.

Chris French plays Hedwig. He is phenomenal. For “Sugar Daddy” he walks through the audience and gives a few lap dances. He takes a Polaroid of the audience at one point and throws it at us. My friend caught it. To look at our faces in that tiny photograph only makes his performance that much more astounding. We look like living dead. How he pulled off that entire show having to look at us floors me. French singing “Midnight Radio” = Goosebumps.

For someone who hasn’t seen the movie, I thought the relationship between Yitzhak (Aleque Reid) and Hedwig might seem a bit contrived or maybe just a little puzzling. But I got over that pretty quickly.

“When it comes to huge openings, a lot of people think of me.” These one-liners keep your ears perked throughout the performance. Even though it’s midnight. And even though you may have had one too many martinis.

The supporting cast/band was super good. Ultimately, though, this piece is a celebration of Hedwig, his search for love and self…and all that miserable muck everyone has to go through.

“Don’t you know me DC? I’m the new Berlin Wall. Try and tear me down!”

Go and thank me later: http://www.hedwigdc.com

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