Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Hedwig storms onto" East Bra"

                                 "I was born on the other side
                                  of a town ripped in two
                                   I made it over the great divide
                                      now I'm coming for you"

Neil Patrick Harris explodes back onto Broadway, or as Hedwig proclaimed on this night " East Bra", in the opening number " Tear Me Down" and she never lets up for an emotional and celebratory 85 minutes of one of the best rock operas ever written.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch takes back this wicked little town by searing this inspiring cult phenomenon into the collective consciousness of a new and broader audience, while remaining true to it's origins and die hard fans and not sugar coating a thing. This new revival, with  book by John Cameron Mitchell and music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, of the off Broadway production is now front and center with a 21st century Hedwig, who has never gone out of style, reincarnated in an electrifying performance by Mr. Harris.
                                         After the first Saturday 10:00 PM show.

This work with its universal themes of searching for self, traumatic suffering, survival, love, and rebirth , weaves these complex emotional motifs with some of the most original rock music to hit the great White Way. Music that draws off the raw power of early punk and classic 1970's glam rock and for good measure throws in a beautiful ballad that would make Phil Collins envious.When one considers Hedwig's dual past, first there is the original off-Broadway show and second the cult classic film, starring and directed by the incomparable John Cameron Mitchell. So why tamper with perfection? Well folks this show was always destined to reach Broadway and its messages  are needed more now than ever.

I won't give too much away but as it has  already reported Neil's Hedwig is ready to interact with the audience spontaneously and with biting sarcasm. I highly recommend that you do not walk in late for the 10:00 PM performance as you will come under the full scorn of Hedwig's eye as she calls you out in her sultry German accent " How can anyone be late to a 10 o'clock show?"

The stage direction by Michael Mayer is in your face and raw but equally intimate and insightful. To this reviewer what propels this show to greatness is the lighting by Kevin Adams, which embraces the best of both worlds. Allowing your eyes to indulge in the spectacle and hues of live performance rock as well as the emotional nuances of a dramatic musical.
                                          The Hurt Locker Musical?

Hedwig's partners in crime are  Yitzhak, the multi-talented and glorious Lena Hall, and her band the Angry Inch. Featuring guitarist and musical director Justin Craig, bassist, guitars, keyboards Matt Duncan,  guitarist Tim Mislock, and drummer Peter Yanowitz who are all exceptional and understated in their stage presence.This band lets the music speak their dialogue and not their wild hair. 

Foremost this show is about the music and this sextet soars and rocks as they perform a re-worked glam rock version of " Sugar Daddy" to a ripping orgasmic version of " Exquisite Corpse". If you are a  rock fan you will be  very pleased as the music is load and clear...oh what a great sound system will do. This ensemble also provides luscious rich harmonies which are showcased in the reprise of " Wicked Little Town".

If you are a traditional Broadway fan you might subscribe to that old belief that " the music should never be louder than the voices"...well prepared yourself for a "Tommyesqe" journey and rock out with the rest of the audience and leave your inhibitions at the door.

Neil brings all of his professional tools and gifts to this memorable performance. From his torch light rendition of " Wicked Little Town"   to a moving interpretation of " The Origin of Love" Mr. Harris has moved the goal posts considerably.

Lena Hall is her Romeo, or better yet her Yitzhak, and brings street cred to mainstream audiences with a complicated and endearing transgender character. Ms. Hall especially shines on " The Long Grift" which painfully documents Hedwig's world as it starts to come apart, but just as quickly Neil's serenades us with a deeply moving and confessional " Hedwig's Lament". Despair quickly disintegrates into  one more release of rage as Hedwig moves closing to become whole again and finding her/his true self as the mind bending " Exquisite Corpse" has Hedwig leaving it all on the stage.

Audiences may have trouble  following  Hedwig's final transformation as  it may have been necessary to give more details to how we got there but working in one act may have made that a challenge.

The rapturous " Midnight Radio" will leave you beaming from ear to ear and celebrating with Hedwig and Yitzhak as you have just witnessed the best thing happening on Broadway at this moment.

I will note that Neil's Hedwig is buff, very buff, in this role. The physicality that the role demands possibly could not have afforded anything less but to to this reviewers eyes JCM's Hedwig was gorgeous and more feminine.

Neil's Hedwig is harden and almost too masculine at times and a magnified exaggeration that would almost suggest a bad drag queen...which we all know Hedwig would never be. Regardless the end destination for both Hedwig's is the same and as equally moving. 
                                 "Breathe feel love
                                       Give free
                                  Know in your soul
                                  Like your blood knows the way
                                  From your heart to your brain
                                  Knows that you're whole"
                                           Lena Hall working that line.
  


  

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