Musical Mondays: Hedwig and the Angry Inch

"So you want to know about Tommy Gnosis? Alright I'll tell you about Tommy Gnosis...."

In 2002, I auditioned for the role of Buzz Hauser in Love! Valour! Compassion! using a monologue I concocted from the show Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Needless to say, I got the part and the rest is history.

But today's blog is not about me, its about Hedwig: The first time I heard of Hedwig was in 1999. My friend Lucas gave me a copy of the original cast recording. I never listened to it though....I'm not sure why--and it sat on my shelf for 3 years.

In 2001, the movie version of the musical came out and Steven and I went to see it. The DVD of the movie comes with a great documentary attached with all sorts of great info about how the production of Hedwig developed....if you decide you really like Hedwig, definitely watch this.

QUICK SYNOPSIS TIME
In the stage show most of the plot is delivered by Hedwig's monologues. I think the movie works so well because these monologues were expanded beyond one character.

Hedwig (Hansel) lives in East Berlin until he meets an American captain, Luther, who wants to bring him back to America. Unfortunately the only way to get Hansel out is for Luther and him to get married...but there's one hitch. "To be free, one must give up a little part of oneself." The operation to remove Hansel's "little bishop in a turtleneck" goes horribly wrong, leaving him with "an angry inch." But Luther and Hansel (now Hedwig--using his mother's passport) leave the country and move to Junction City, Kansas. Well, shortly there after, Luther leaves Hedwig for a young twink and Hedwig is left to pick up the pieces of his ridiculous life. Thankfully, Hedwig has vocal talent and can perform a night club show in local Junction City diners.

Meanwhile, to support herself, Hedwig takes up babysitting gigs and odd jobs (mostly the jobs we call blow). While babysitting, he meets Tommy Speck with whom he forms a beautiful musical relationship. They write songs and perform together. Hedwig renames Tommy Speck Tommy Gnosis (for the Greek god of knowledge). Unfortunately Tommy gets freaked out when he finds Hedwig's angry inch. "What's that?" "....its what I have to work with." He runs out on Hedwig, starting a very VERY successful music career of his own based on the songs he wrote with Hedwig. So while Tommy is touring throughout the states, Hedwig follows him and performs her own show at tiny venues next to the stadiums where Tommy's concerts are. (most of the stage show happens at one of these concerts)

The original show and movie starred John Cameron Mitchell who wrote Hedwig. Once, while I was taking the train from New York up to Boston, I actually saw him. At first, I didn't think it was him--he was just sitting in a normal seat on the train, he blew his nose a lot--I thought, this can't be the genius who created Hedwig. WELL IT WAS! When I got off the train there was a woman waiting with a sign that said "Mr. Mitchell" and off he went with her. He was obviously coming up from New York to attend the Boston premiere of Short Bus.

The music is great and the costumes are insane. I definitely recommend you see the movie and if you ever have a chance to see it live, see that too!