The more well-known Hedwig is white, fluffy and loves to deliver post for Harry Potter. Torn Ticket II, however, is reinventing Hedwig's image. The only thing shared by Harry Potter's and Torn Ticket II's Hedwig is the name.
Tonight at 8 p.m. in Sophia Gordon, Torn Ticket II and its co-sponsor, the Queer-Straight Alliance, will put on their fall minor, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." Set in the format of a rock concert, this musical is as unconventional as its main character Hedwig, an East German transsexual rock star. Musically directed by sophomore Andrew McIntosh, "Hedwig" has an awesome array of punk rock numbers, which will definitely keep the audience rapt with attention.
"The 'Angry Inch' refers to what's left of her botched sex change," said senior Steve Dyer, who plays Hedwig. In an almost autobiographical manner, Hedwig recounts the trials and tribulations in her quest for love.
As a young boy, his mom tells Hedwig how the two sexes came to be. In a song titled "The Origin of Love," Dyer says "...a long time ago there were three sexes, and it was two people fused together, [but] one day the gods got angry and split us in half." Love, then, becomes the search for the other missing half. In addition to the search for true love, the musical also discusses questions of gender identity.
Hedwig first starts out with Luther, played by sophomore Rory Parks, but is quickly dumped. Moving on, she becomes enamored with Tommy, a 17-year-old, also played by Parks. She helps launch Tommy's successful rock career, but unfortunately gets dumped again. Hedwig then marries Yitzhak, played by freshman Kamillah AkLaff, a Croatian ex-drag queen. By the end of the musical, Hedwig realizes that she does not need to find her "other half" to be truly happy. Apparently, the song her mother sang to her does not ring true.
While the musical explores different gender identities, the cast also experiences stepping into the other sex's shoes, literally. According to Dyer, it was extremely difficult learning how to walk in five-inch heels and "trying to portray femininity realistically."
The director, junior Laura Gerhardt, believes that an actor should fully incarnate a character. As a result, trips to Garment District were a must.
"I tried on skirts, sexy cheerleader outfits, sexy cowgirl outfits and other atrocities," Dyer said. Furthermore, as Dyer portrays a transsexual woman, clean-shaven legs as well as a waxed chest are essential to successfully portraying a female. According to Dyer, "The 40 Year Old Virgin' [2005] is way exaggerated, but [waxing] was tolerable - not enjoyable."
Chosen for personal reasons, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" has been a grueling, creative yet rewarding process.
"Laura is an incredible director, and it's been such an experience to work with her," Dyer said.
Rehearsing for about five weeks, the cast and crew have had intense rehearsals lasting until 1 a.m.
The song lyrics, combined with the witty banter of the characters, promise that this musical will definitely be entertaining. As Hedwig explores her identity, she takes the audience along in her lively journey. "Hedwig" is an original musical with a poignant theme. She is a character who will universally appeal to audiences, as she does not fully identify as male or female.
"Hedwig is witty, graceful and fierce, and she has some killer lines that are hilarious," Dyer said. "People will really have a fun time."
