Review of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" at the Jungle Theatre

For those who don't know about Hedwig already, the premise ought to be enough to intrigue you into seeing it: Hansel, a young East German boy with a love of rock music, meets a U.S. soldier who intends to marry him and take him to America. In order for this to happen, Hansel must pass off as a woman; he changes his name to Hedwig, his mother's name, in order to use her passport, and he has to undergo a sex change operation. The operation is botched, and Hedwig is left with a one inch nub of flesh, the "angry inch". Once in America, the soldier leaves Hedwig for another man, and Hedwig forms a rock band, The Angry Inch, named after the place "where [her] penis used to be, where [her] vagina never was". She meets a young boy named Tommy Speck and they write some songs together, after which point Tommy abandons her and takes their songs to superstardom. The theater production is a Hedwig and the Angry Inch performance in a rundown dive, playing right next door to Tommy Gnosis, as he is now called, and the story of Hedwig's bizarre life unfolds through music and stage chatter.

If that's not enough to grab you, did I also mention it rocks? It does. It rocks. It rocks like you wouldn't expect the theater to rock. The whole show feels exactly like being at a rock concert, except that you have to sit down and there are old people there. I was one of the youngest people in the crowd at the Jungle that night, which was surprising considering the subject matter. Some people did walk out in the middle, perhaps unaware of what exactly they were getting into. This is a rock musical echoing the theatrics of glam rock, the raw intensity of punk rock, and the over-the-top nature of a drag show. Jairus Abts (Hedwig) is decked out in drag, flowing Farrah Fawcett wig, heels and tomato breasts, as she tells raunchy jokes, spits on the audience, and slides the microphone across her crotch and down her throat. Sorry, folks, this ain't A Christmas Carol.

The Jungle transforms into the Red Fez Grill, and the stage is adorned with the bric-a-brac of a slovenly, under-attended rock venue. Playwright John Cameron Mitchell starred as Hedwig in the first performances, delegated to rock clubs rather than the theater, and much of that same feel and energy is translated into this stage performance. The songs are all killer (sing along if you know 'em) and intensify the storytelling. The performances by everyone involved are fantastic, though this is clearly Abts' show: As Hedwig, he controls the attention of everyone and tells the story almost solely from his mouth. You begin to realize how grand a production they've made here from so little, grabbing your attention with well-crafted songs and compelling storytelling that seem more grandiose through the performances. My first exposure to Hedwig was through the film version, starring Mitchell, and I was curious to see the theater version which birthed the movie. In seeing the theater production, I realized how faithful the film was in terms of scale: The same basic premise of rock show interspersed with dialogue revealing the storyline plays true in both versions, and both retain the energy and power of a rock and roll concert.

My observation that there were not very many young people in the crowd does not surprise me despite the clear appeal to a younger demographic: The show was awfully expensive for the college crowd. Those used to going to actual rock shows might be less enthused about spending $26 to see this. I think it's certainly worth the money, and if you spend a night or two not going to the Library or buying weed it should be easily affordable. I do think it's an interesting thing to mull over though. The theater is not as strong a pull as it once was, and if places intend to stay afloat they're going to have to pull in a younger audience. The staging of Hedwig at the Jungle certainly seems a step in that direction, but what good is it if no one can afford to go? I would like to see bigger discounts for students, as I feel Hedwig is something many young people would really enjoy but may not be able to go to simply because of the price. Theater is a very enjoyable form of entertainment, but I rarely get the chance to go because I'm broke as a joke, as I know many college students are. Hedwig is definitely worth the money, and I highly suggest seeing it. It's fun, the music is terrific, and the actors turn in great performances. Go get some culture at the Jungle Theater. Oh, and if you're sitting in the front row, a word of warning: You might get the car wash.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is playing through August 31 at the Jungle Theater. Tickets are $26-36, with a discount of $2 for students.