The Windsor/Detroit Breathe Art Theatre Project presents Hedwig and the Angry Inch through March 26th at 1515 Broadway, Detroit MI.

For more info, visit: www.breathearttheatre.com.

Theatre Review by Ann Miceli

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is—by far—the coolest of the super cool rock-goddess love stories. Telling Hedwig’s search for love through both song and monologue, the play shows us the range of what love can be—innocent, angry, tender, guilty and passionate.

That’s where the similarity to most rock-goddess love stories ends.

Hedwig rocks all that you expect from a romance, punctuated with surprising turns into bisexuality, transvestitism, sex change and the push-pull of tumultuous love. Amid all this strangeness, there is something glamorous and likeable about Hedwig—she is the perfect 1940s fainting heroine on a quest to find her missing half, and in that quest, becomes transformed.

In that transformation we see something wholly, utterly, completely human. That is the power in this story. This is Hedwig’s story, told Hedwig’s way—in head-banging hard rock and sugar sweet ballads, amped-up with high drama and glittering costume.

Beyond the captivating gender-identity story, this is a well-staged production. Musical performances are exceptionally strong throughout. Kevin Young as Hedwig handles the various vocal representations of the multiple characters from her life quite skillfully. In the monologues where Hedwig plays herself as well as someone else, the back and forth delivery tended to be a bit cumbersome, though this awkwardness was a minor inconvenience in an otherwise outstanding production. Katie Galazka was also impressive as Yitzhak—understated and quiet, until presented with the opportunity to belt out a number.

(The only serious shortcoming came because of a strange mid-production entrance by the bassist, who then lit up a smoke and chatted with band behind Hedwig, eroding the dramatic illusion of the production.)

For those fascinated by an honest exploration of gender identity, Hedwig is the mother lode. Few productions go as far and deep as this one to challenge what you always thought you knew to be true.

Oh—and one more thing—her hair totally kicks ass.