Darren Criss in Hedwig — Page 6

"I am wondering if it was his girlfriend.

I really can't judge that it was a woman. They have free reign to kiss/face hump whomever."

I'll judge if all the subsequent audience interaction is with nothing but women. I mean, considering the character of Hedwig that he's portraying it wouldn't fit at all, and would actually circumvent some of the meaning of the show.

I guess my biggest concern is that he just doesn't "get it." Neil, Andrew, MCH, and JCM all brought something very unique to their understandings of Hedwig and who she is. I am a bit worried that DC seems to think it's a drag show. I hope he finds his comfort level in the show, I'd hate to see it end with him.

Hiya Jane,

I can’t recall from the NPH or AR shows I saw, but that bit was definitely not in the JCM Broadway run. In fact, Yitzhak doesn’t speak now except to introduce Hedwig and to say, “Can I get a B flat?”

There's a big difference to me between what Yitzhak says in role/ in character and what a straight actor says about a female-identified queer character. Plus, Hedwig may be a bitch, but that's one element of a complex character. The way DC has talked about Hedwig is simplistic and reductive.

"I listened to all of the recording earlier and I really like his Origin of Love.

His weakest for me was Wicked Little Town."

I found the rest, and of course allowing for the quality of it all, his best for me were Angry Inch and Exquisite Corpse, punk works for him cause he can do loud.

Wicked Little Town sounds very thin, the high notes are bad, and the phrases unfinished as in Midnight Radio. Wig in a Box is almost a recitative. Now I see why Origin of Love is one of the better songs from last night.

Updated On: 4/30/15 at 03:07 PM

Just listened to The origin of love. His diction is absolutely horrible. Vocally shaky yes, but the diction is much worse than Ken Wantanabe's.

I wasn't referring to you, bitter, as much as we all need to give the guy a chance before picking apart every syllable he utters!

^ well, not knowing Darren Criss from Adam, I can only advise you to wait a bit until he settles into the role and is more comfortable in it, and understands the show. Same advice for any new Hedwig!

"Just listened to DC's Origin of Love. He went off pitch a little, and sounded nervous, but give the guy a chance. There's a lot of potential. it's so not fair to judge him at this point. really."

It's 100% fair to judge him. He is performing for tickets that could be up to $250.

Seems Rebecca Naomi Jones who has been in her role for close to a month now is still fairly polarizing as far as her interpretation with some viewers. So it's hard to say that people won't judge or critique. Unlike others here I can't go see a performance mutliple times (budget won't allow) so it seems odd to say that critiques from people paying good money for a show shouldn't count or be given until the peformer "settles in" for X number of days/weeks/months in a role.

Updated On: 4/30/15 at 07:50 PM

"Having watched almost every single Hedwig from their first performance and how they made the character their own after time, I stand behind what I said.
I trust the producers of Hedwig to feel that DC is ready to perform for the public whatever price ticket you bought. I'm sure the show, to those who are not the nitpicking posters on this board, are enjoying it to no end.
"

In other words, only "postive" reviews count in your book. Negaive ones are nit pickers.

Glad that's cleared up.

Apparently as did mine.

Settling into a role is no guarantee a performer will necessarily get better or get worse, it's live theatre. Meanwhile performers know, fairly or not, they will be judged for their performance that day, in real time.

Discounting critiques because you think they need to wait is an indulgence many don't have.

"Discounting critiques because you think they need to wait is an indulgence many don't have."

Ok, the above deserves my explanation. Sure, people will criticize and that's natural. I am complaining about the nitpicking that goes on in this board, which for me causes eye-rolling. It comes from some who consider themselves the arbiters of good taste in theatre. Also from some who have studied voice, dance, acting, etc. I ask them to consider giving the actor more time, because I have seen so many improve in the role. I consider Hedwig a unique role which really does become the actor's own signature.

If, in time, there is no improvement, such critiques are justified. But to trash the performance apart after one or two performances is not fair in my book. Especially immediately following the master. And have these critics even SEEN the show, or are they reacting to the audio on the net. A bootleg audio.

As for the price of a ticket, I mentioned that DC is ready to perform to a broadway audience, per the producers, and the patrons are not being gypped.