Am I the only one that wasn't that impressed by Hedwig- Page 3

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 7:13pm

No I haven't seen Hedwig yet but I hope to see it before Neil leaves.

However, I seemed to be one of the few people who didn't like Pippin much - even with the amazing cast that opened in this version. I sort of felt that I was missing something. So I did go again..and my opinion did not change at all. So I guess I just have to own my opinion..

I also was not thrilled with Matilda first time I saw it but I have liked it more after I saw it again.

I think with Hedwig, it's not necessarily my "type"of show...so perhaps I will go with lower expectations which will help my enjoyment when I finally get there...

[SweetLips]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 7:16pm

You poor kid--leave alone and retreat gracefully. You've stated your opinion, you don't have to keep defending it and every opposing response.
The important thing about Hedwig is that you have formed your opinion of the show[I walked out], it didn't live up to your expected hype, so live with it and talk about it from YOUR perspective. Just because someone likes offal[God forbid], should you?

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 7:23pm

I'm betting that those who were disappointed with the show and/or think NPH is overhyped feel that way because they didn't see the Hedwig of the off broadway days. The character goes through his odyssey of ups, downs, pain, joy, horror, etc. and we live it with her because the actor SHOWS HUMAN EMOTION. NPH doesn't. He does the NPH show, doesn't disappear into the character, and you're left feeling nothing. Yes, he's overhyped.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 7:24pm

True.

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 7:29pm

Considering Jane has the most enviable Hedwig Off-Broadway perspective ever, one I wish I could have witnessed even 5% of.... and that Jane should be dismissive of nearly anyone playing Hedwig after the performers who put the heels on back then... I only saw JCM perform as Hedwig once at the Jane and still felt the same about NPH. But I don't think of it as a negative about NPH, I just think it says that much about JCM, and how high he set the bar... I can't wait for the sequel!

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 7:35pm

Haterobics, I think mostly everyone who saw Hedwig at the Jane, really felt for the character even after JCM left. Michael Cerveris gave it the most emotion, I think, and then I'd put Matt McGrath after that.

Of course everything we post is opinion, and I feel strongly about the lack of emotions in NPH's Hedwig. I hope you believe me when I say that I teared up every single night at Midnight Radio, no matter who was doing HEdwig at the jane.

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 7:48pm

In a perfect world, every Jane Street Hedwig will do a short cycle on Broadway in this run. I know I'd go see every one of them...

(To be fair, that is barely a fair promise, as I will go see every Hedwig after NPH anyway, heh)

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 8:04pm

^ lol, I don't blame you for that.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 8:15pm

Expect Ally's cycle to be the shortest. Maybe only through "Sugar Daddy."

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 8:46pm

haha, yes, because after that, you never know who might be singing.

[A Director]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 10:21pm

>NPH doesn't. He does the NPH show, doesn't disappear into the character, and you're left feeling nothing. Yes, he's overhyped.

Jane2 - So, NPH doesn't show HUMAN EMOTIONS. Gee, I thought he was a human. If you prefer other actors in the role, that's okay. On the other hand, JCM, ST, & MM WANTED HIM FOR HEDWIG. In all the articles I've read and all the video interviews I've seen, all three are pleased with his performance. You must be really POed because they didn't consult you on their casting.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 10:27pm

"and you're left feeling nothing."

You are? I wasn't. Nor were my nieces, one who only saw the movie, the other two who saw the Anthony Rapp production and the movie. They all wanted to see the show again. We all felt a lot.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 10:39pm

What did you all feel? I could understand anyone wanting to see it again, it's very entertaining.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 11:24pm

I was terribly unimpressed by NPH at the Tony's, I really think his award was more political than anything! I saw his competitors, I think that Ramin's load in Les Miz and Karl's Rocky performance was far more worthy of the award! I still think it's a crime Pasquale wasn't nominated for Bridges, he was a powerhouse and NPH is just, meh! I don't find him engaging, I find his vocal talents mediocre and nasally, he's so self indulgent! Where's the rock star everyone's claiming he is? I feel like we've already seen this Angel character before done to better success, nothing new here, lick all the glasses and grind on all the rock stars you want, I'm not believing it, nothing edgy or shocking here! All that said I love Lena Hall and I have my tickets for when Rannells comes in!

Updated On: 6/29/14 at 11:24 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 11:31pm

He earned the Tony, but hosting the Tonys for several years was absolutely a factor. The person who deserved it, Stephen, didn't even get nominated for the damn thing.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/29/14 at 11:42pm

I'll admit, I would love to see Ramin's load in Les Miz.

I can't speak for my nieces, but I am always moved by a well-executed story about an underdog's self-actualization. I also can't separate out my feelings for what the show meant to me back then from the feelings this production brought up, since it's all the same pleasure centers in the brain where the buttons were pushed.

Mostly, I was talking about the feelings we had to counterbalance A Director saying "you're" left feeling nothing. Because nothing can get a girl transferred.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/30/14 at 12:46am

Namo- A Director was quoting Jane2 with "you're left feeling nothing." Which I guess meant her opinion has cooled since she saw it and deemed NPH "excellent."

I didn't see the Jane Street production- or any prior production of the show, though I watch the film quite a bit- but definitely was moved by this revival. As was my mother, a complete stranger to the piece. Other friends, ranging from "know it from the film" to "a total stranger" all have had positive or glowing reactions.

So, no. People that missed the original production aren't being overhyped into disappointment. People are going to be disappointed by things other people like. My good friend doesn't like seafood or chocolate. Fortunately he has redeeming qualities.

Updated On: 6/30/14 at 12:46 AM

[Melissa25]

Posted: 6/30/14 at 1:08am

But does Neal Patrick use a stamp?

[RSrichie]

Posted: 6/30/14 at 2:17am

I've seen a number of Hedwigs (John Cameron Mitchell, Michael Cerveris & Matt McGrath) and NPH was my least favorite performance but I still give him a lot of credit. I didn't think he had it in him. He did a great job, pouring himself into the part. I liked it feeling and sounding like a rock concert but I thought the pacing of the dislogue between songs was way too slow, NPH over milking it for all it's worth. It was a good production, not a great one.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 6/30/14 at 8:28am

Count me among the unimpressed, darreyl. Full disclosure: I don’t love the material, but as with most material that leaves me cold, I always hope for a production that makes me love it, especially in the case of something like HEDWIG, which is adored by so many people I respect. It makes me feel like I’m missing something or the show just hasn’t “clicked” for me yet.

This production didn’t do anything to win me over. From NPH, I saw a lot of strutting and mugging, ****-tons of energy being expended – I mean, he really does work his ass off – but in the end, I never saw a Hedwig. I saw a cabaret-act version of a Hedwig, a guy with lots of charisma wearing wigs and dresses and makeup and wink-wink-nudge-nudging his audience.

But my mom loved it. “Isn’t he just so great?!” she said at the end.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 6/30/14 at 9:21am

I never saw any stage production of Hedwig.
I previously only saw the movie version countless times.
I love the music and listen to the CD tons of times.

I went into the NPH revival really eager. I knew it was going to be 90 minutes with no intermission. Unfortunately...I thought at times the production dragged (no pun intended). I found myself asking questions: Would I see this revival again? NO. Would I purchase the CD of the NPH cast recording? NO. etc etc I was not being pulled into Hedwig's "world". I was watching a show and not emotionally connecting.

NPH gave one hell of a performance! I thought he did a great job. He worked really hard. I was impressed with his energy level.

I did not see any of the other nominated performers in the category NPH was in though so I cannot fairly say he should have won over the others.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/30/14 at 9:26am

For a while there, it seemed that if you said anything less than glowing about the production or NPH that you'd be dragged out back and beaten to death. I'm glad people feel it's "safe" to say how they really feel now. Because the only thing I saw was that guy from the TV show in a dress playing that guy from that TV show in a dress.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/30/14 at 9:30am

Thank god for those brave enough to spearhead the inevitable "backlash to the hype" stage of the life of something that's been extremely praised.

Updated On: 6/30/14 at 09:30 AM

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/30/14 at 9:53am

" I also can't separate out my feelings for what the show meant to me back then from the feelings this production brought up, since it's all the same pleasure centers in the brain where the buttons were pushed. "

Well that's the only reason I got any enjoyment from seeing the show again Namo, It was such a big part of my life and was filled with so much emotion, that simply seeing it again was a joy. But stepping away from that re-visit with Hedwig, I'm able to see it with a fresh viewpoint, and as many here are saying, it's just entertainment and not much more.

It leaves you feeling nothing but being entertained.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 6/30/14 at 11:01am

I expressed my opinion on the show here right after seeing it in the first week of previews. I didn't wait for some kind of "cooling-off" period. I don't recall being berated for expressing a dissenting opinion early on, though perhaps it happened and I just didn't see it.