Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Text by John Cameron Mitchell, Music and Lyrics by Stephen Trask
Directed by Jordan Woods
The Q Collective
June 22, 2019
Sarah Gene Dowling, Luke Steingruby
Photo: The Q Collective
It’s fun seeing a show you’ve seen before in a new light. The Q Collective’s small-scale, intimate staging of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at The Monacle is an ideal example of a new venue bringing an additional dimension to a show. The small nightclub setting, combined with excellent staging and an ideal cast makes for a thoroughly entertaining production.
The Q Collective is a newer theatre company that focuses on issues of gender and sexuality. Hedwig and the Angry Inch seems an ideal show for this company, with its exploration of gender identity among other issues. The title of the show has a double meaning for German-American rocker Hedwig (Luke Steingruby). “The Angry Inch” is the name of her band (keyboardist Holly Barber, guitarist J. Michael, bassist John Gerdes, and drummer Joe Winters) but it also refers to the result of a botched surgery that she explains as she tells her story, which details her life growing up as “Hansel” in Cold War East Germany, then meeting an American soldier and becoming “Hedwig”, and later getting involved with an insecure young man who eventually becomes rock star “Tommy Gnosis”. Her relationships with the men in her life, as well as her mother, and with her own identity, form the basis for the show, which is more of a concert than a play. Hedwig is joined onstage by her husband, Yitzhak (Sarah Gene Dowling), who used to have a drag act until he met Hedwig, who refuses to let him perform in drag, much to Yitzhak’s distress. The interplay between the two forms a lot of the drama of the show, in addition to Hedwig’s relationship with Tommy, who mostly appears in Hedwig’s stories and is heard shrouded in mist behind a door as he gives a concert nearby. The songs are rock-based, from more upbeat, driving songs like “Angry Inch” to slower power ballads like “Wicked Little Town”.
The setting at the Monacle brings a lot of realism to the performance. Although Hedwig is an over-the-top personality in many ways, this production brings her closer to the audience and makes her story even more personal and direct. The performances are especially strong, as well, with Steingruby delightfully theatrical as the enigmatic Hedwig. Dowling is also impressive as the longsuffering Yitzhak, who puts up with Hedwig’s moodiness and delivers powerful vocals as well. Steingruby shows off a smooth voice on songs like the memorable “Wig in a Box” and Wicked Little Town”, and Dowling shines as well both in backing vocals and singing lead on “The Long Grift”. The chemistry between the two is excellent, as well, as they portray a credible relationship arc on stage leading up to a dazzling finale.
Production-wise, this may be small scale, but the technical quality is first-rate. From the excellent band led by music director Holly Barber, to impressive lighting by Brian M. Ebbinghaus, to truly dazzling costume, wig, and makeup design by Lauren Smith, this production brings Hedwig’s world to life with remarkable detail. Hedwig and the Angry Inch from The Q Collective has the feel of an edgy indie-rock show in a small club. It’s bold, quirky and edgy, and entirely winning.
The Q Collective is presenting Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Monacle until June 30, 2019
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