Posted: 5/29/15 at 9:26pm
One more. Since we made a fuss over Michael's looking like an alien in Wicked Little Town reprise, here he is. And please excuse me for threadjacking!
Posted: 5/29/15 at 9:46pm
I was finally able to make it out to see Hedwig last night, and even having seen a couple clips of Darren in the role and having heard audio of his versions of most of he songs, I was taken aback by his performance. I've heard great things and I went in being fairly confident that I was in for a treat but there's just something almost indescribable about his stage presence that really makes his performance something special.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see any of the other Hedwigs live (well I did have an opportunity to see NPH but I passed on it after hearing the cast recording) but I have seen them all in action on video. Darren's take on the character clicks with me in an entirely different way than the others. Despite having seen it live, I feel the need to watch him recorded to make a fair comparison. The way he holds the audience is just so magnetic and I'm curious to see if that translates out of the live experience.
Seeing him shift from one character to another in both body and voice was an absolute privilege. And his Tommy... His Tommy makes any and all comments on his age irrelevant. An older actor wouldn't be able to momentarily absolutely transform into this awkward, eager, disenfranchised, teenager. His portrayal of Tommy is really what solidifies Darren as a top two Hedwig for me. Giving Tommy that life gives Hedwig so much to play off of in the climax of the show. And unlike others, I thought Darren's "love the front of me" was perfect. In that moment she's not angry, she's sad and disappointed and frustrated. This man who she thought was her other half was rejecting her over the one piece of herself she wasn't born with. I agree that her moments of anger with Tommy at the door do seem like slightly put on in an otherwise seamless performance, but when viewed through the lens of that scene in the trailer, my take on it is that his Hedwig is just more sad/disappointed/frustrated than others, but she thinks what she should be feeling is anger. And there is a great power in that.
Rebecca is spectacular. While I can appreciate emotion in theatre, I rarely take it on and feel it myself, but I came close to tearing up when Yitzhak was given the wig and triumphantly put it on. She was fantastic throughout, but an entire show could be inspired by and written about the emotion that passed over her face in just that one moment. And her voice is just out of this world.
And speaking of that, for me, Darren's voice is perfect for this score. All that talk from a few months ago about if he'd be able to take this role on vocally seems downright laughable. He's able to give these amazing songs the sound of a pop/rockstar with all the deeply engrained emotion of a trained theatre performer. I'd lkill for a proper recording of him and Rebecca. The two of them are perfect candidates for an official live album, which would actually lend itself very well to this show.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 10:48pm
Posted: 5/29/15 at 10:50pm
so based on what's said in Paul McGill's video is that he's basically the Hedwig u/s. No credit for it, but if something was to happen, he could perform the role if needed.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 11:14pm
It's funny that you heard it that way because that's not what he said at all.
Great quote about Michael C. Hall though.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 11:30pm
Probably an Equity thing?
Updated On: 5/29/15 at 11:30 PM
Posted: 5/29/15 at 11:46pm
I just watched the video. He didn't say he was the u/s for Hedwig.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 11:53pm
He basically said he's going to be the Hedwig after Taye Diggs. Many congratulation to him!
Posted: 5/29/15 at 11:57pm
lol, Phyllis!
Posted: 6/3/15 at 5:06pm
Does anyone know is Darren comes out after matinees?
Posted: 6/3/15 at 5:11pm
I hope they rerecord with Paul McGill.
Posted: 6/3/15 at 6:22pm
"Does anyone know is Darren comes out after matinees?"
only sunday matinees, not on saturdays as there is a second show that evening.
Posted: 6/13/15 at 12:42am
Bumping this thread because I've seen the show live twice now (the second time being just tonight) with Darren :)
In terms of his performance as a whole, I really feel like everything still stands from my opinion based on the video- he's easily my second favorite Hedwig after JCM, and while he's wonderful and vibrant and hilarious throughout, he's at his BEST from Wicked Little Town onward.
Vocally, I absolutely freaking adore his voice on these songs. I knew I did based on the video and other audios I've heard, but hearing him sing those songs live is such a treat for me! I have a very hard time understanding what so many people on hear have against his voice, because.. yeah, even Wig in a Box (which based on audios I hadn't been quite as crazy about) sounded beautiful live to me. And Origin of Love, Wicked Little Town, and Midnight Radio are just.. *__* It makes me sad that we'll never get a professional cast recording with Darren, because tbh I just find his voice a million times more enjoyable for this music than NPH's (love NPH's Hedwig in general, but the cast recording is just really really lacking for me).
Other non Darren-related things:
- Rebecca is really, really fantastic and I adore her Yitzhak! Such a cutie :) And that VOICE! (not gonna lie, just tone-wise I think I may even prefer her voice to Lena's. It's just gorgeous)
- I cannot get over how gorgeous Origin of Love is! An excellent scrim job indeed :P No seriously though, it's so freaking beautiful, and especially with how much love Darren's voice on that song too in combination with the visuals... it's pretty magical.
There are many other things I could say, but I'm going to try and cut myself off here rather than continue to ramble on :)
Suffice it to say... for me anyway, the show is in really great hands right now!
Posted: 6/16/15 at 9:36pm
when i saw the show a few days ago the orchestra was full but the mez was full in the center and the sides where only half full i didnt see the balcony how does it look?
Posted: 6/18/15 at 11:17pm
Saw Darren tonight and he blew away my hopeful expectations. JCM is Hedwig, Darren became Hedwig- he owned the part. It was a really confident portrayal- his voice was light years disconnected from the modest display he showed in How To Succeed. I also thought that his physical dexterity brought a great energy to the stage. Clearly, this role has stretched him in so many ways. I can't imagine he was anything near this in his early performances. Very happy to have seen him-
Posted: 6/18/15 at 11:39pm
So the part is like a time-share?
Posted: 6/22/15 at 10:48am
LOL. Did Darren Criss really shame an audience member into not lifting up their hands? http://darrenishedwig.tumblr.com/post/122127149594/darren-criss-takes-a-phone-from-an-audience-member
Updated On: 6/22/15 at 10:48 AM
Posted: 6/23/15 at 1:10pm
I just watched this video of Lady Gaga singing Imagine. After watching it, I think she would be an amazing Hedwig.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=243&v=q3ues1stefk
Posted: 6/23/15 at 1:10pm
I just watched this video of Lady Gaga singing Imagine. After watching it, I think she would be an amazing Hedwig.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=243&v=q3ues1stefk
Posted: 6/23/15 at 2:17pm
"LOL. Did Darren Criss really shame an audience member into not lifting up their hands? http://darrenishedwig.tumblr.com/post/122127149594/darren-criss-takes-a-phone-from-an-audience-member "
hah! good for him. that's definitely a hedwig thing to do.
Updated On: 6/23/15 at 02:17 PM
Posted: 6/23/15 at 2:40pm
And you all were so worried and confident Darren would suck. I never understand how people here worship JCM so much and yet still have no respect for his casting decisions. There hasn't been one bad Hedwig in the bunch yet. You'd think people would have complete faith in JCM by now. But then again, so many of you swore you wouldn't see the show because Darren was now in it, so i guess I'm preaching to the choir.
Posted: 6/23/15 at 2:41pm
Posted: 6/23/15 at 2:44pm
Posted: 6/23/15 at 2:47pm
and there are people who don't like Darren in it at all
Posted: 6/23/15 at 2:48pm
In an interview he said he had ideas for the next hedwig (which was Darren). He definitely has major input.
