Hedwig and the Angry Inch - National Tour at the Ordway

There is a part of me that wants to start this by saying "stop reading this, go to this link and buy tickets NOW." Hedwig needs to be experienced and it is only here in the Twin Cities for a limited time so really, go buy tickets.

Ok - now that you have purchased tickets....

Hedwig and the Angry Inch started in various cabarets and drag shows while John Cameron Mitchell worked on this character he had in mind. Inspired by his personal life growing up in Berlin as part of a military family, and then moving to Junction City and having a German babysitter, the story of Hedwig is simple. A "girly slip of a boy" named Hansel is living in East Berlin during the Cold War. A US Military officer falls for him and wants to marry him - but to do so Hansel needs to have a sex change. It gets botched and leaves Hedwig with an angry inch. Yet marriage happens, Hedwig moves here to the states, is left and divorced and has to find her way to love, acceptance, and wholeness. She does this through the creation of music, and finding a new love...

The show originally played at the James Street Theater Off-Broadway in 1998. After it closed, there were numerous productions through out the world, including at least one here in the Twin Cities that played at the Loring Playhouse. It was made into a fantastic film with most of the original cast, and finally made it to Broadway in the production that is currently playing at the Ordway.

Euan Morton plays Hedwig though I'm not sure "plays" is the correct term. Part of me would like to state that Euan Morton is Hedwig as that is how incredible this performance is. Hannah Corneau is Yitzhak, Hedwig's husband. The band of four musicians (The Angry Inch) is played by the four original players from the Broadway revival. They (Justin Craig, Matt Duncan, Tim Mislock, Dylan Fusillo) have also put out an EP under the name Tits of Clay, and they are incredible. The songs are an amazing amalgamation of glam rock (inspired by Bowie) to punk (inspired by Lou Reed and Iggy Pop), with one song based on the philosophy of Plato. This show is unique in the way the story is told, in the characters on stage, and is so singular that it must be seen in person.

There is more to be said about this show but I have thoughts on the story and the ending....however I want you to go and see it for yourself. After the show closes I will post more while I review the various recordings of this great work. In the meantime, here are some words from the two leads.


and for those curious - a time-lapse of Euan getting into Hedwig.