Darren Criss in Hedwig- Page 9

[CenterOrchestra]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 9:41am

Saw this last night. I thought Darren did a great job. Actually liked him better than NPH. I thought NPH played Hedwig too tough. Darren found a nice vulnerability and seemed into the whole drag queen persona. Saw it twice with JCM in the original production - thought Darren was more on par with JCM's interpretation. Also really liked how well he defined the other characters he played - Lester, Tommy - Hedwig's mother. 

[Kad]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 9:46am

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but it's been on TDF for $45.

[vermouthontherocks]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 1:47am

Well, Darren Criss is continuing his goodwill tour by calling Hedwig a "girl-boy-thing" this time. I know that JCM has said he doesn't consider Hedwig trans, but she's still a character that's meant a lot to the trans community and it's getting increasingly hard for me to not get offended by the callous and uninformed way he describes the character he claims to love so much. I don't think I've been this unenthused by a casting choice since Ally Sheedy. 

[amoni]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 9:45am

Why would Hedwig mean anything to the transgendered community? Hedwig is a gay boy pressured into an operation that turned him into exactly what Criss says, physically he is neither boy or girl and is now a bitter person. Don't know why people refer to Hedwig as trans when he had no desire to be anything but who he already was.

[snl89]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 9:49am

^ Wow. So Darren gives an entire long, passionate, awesome break down of what makes Hedwig such a fantastic and powerhouse character, and the ONLY thing you take away from that is "he said 'thing'!!"?? Really? 

I'm sorry, but that's just taking his comment so far out of context that I cannot let it slide. It's just not cool to do that. 

Here is what he ACTUALLY said: 

"It’s hard enough to be born in Communist East Berlin. That’s rough. That’s a tough hand. Also to be, like, a young girly boy sort of thing, politically and emotionally, that’s a rough thing to have, not to mention the fact that the only way to get out of this already ****ty situation, you have to, the idea is put upon you, it’s not your idea it’s someone else’s idea, to get a sex change."

So you see, it had exactly zero to do with him calling post-operation Hedwig a "girl-boy-thing" and everything to do with the "slip of a girly-boy from Communist East Berlin" quote that comes straight from the show itself. And even with that, he's not calling Hansel a "girly-boy-thing"; he is saying that to be that "slip of a girly boy" in a culture that probably isn't terribly accepting of that is another tough thing to have to deal with. 

And ALL of this, he was saying for the purpose of highlighting that despite the heaps upon heaps of hardship, heartache and trauma that Hedwig has been through: 

"she hangs onto these morsels of resilience and attitude to take power over what has disempowered her. I mean, if that is not a recipe for a f*cking powerhouse character, I don’t know what is."

So can we PLEASE stop blatantly taking things out of context and trying to make him out to be some "frat boy who doesn't get the character" simply because he sometimes uses the word "thing" when he's not sure of exactly the right words to describe a character's situation? 

At least when it was a 2-minute sound bite, I could understand that taking the "woman...thing" comment completely literally could be a valid way to interpret it (I don't think that he MEANT it that way, but it did come out awkwardly, that is true). But with this one? I LOVED his description of what makes Hedwig such a fantastic character, and if anything I think it just further proves that his using the word "thing" sometimes has NOTHING to do with him viewing the character as a "thing". It's literally just a word he seems to use when he's not sure how else to describe all the different aspects of Hedwig or her situation.

 

Anywho, it's actually a pretty great interview in my opinion :) I love Darren's longer interviews. I've always found him really engaging to listen to and intelligent. So if anyone wants to listen: 

https://soundcloud.com/siriusxmentertainment/darren-criss-is-shedding-his-glee-image-and-turning-heads-in-hedwig-and-the-angry-inch-on-broadway 

Updated On: 5/9/15 at 09:49 AM

[vermouthontherocks]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 7:32pm

If you guys are seriously ignorant to the fact that Hedwig was one of the few characters around, for a very long time, that trans people could see themselves in and they latched onto that, I'm not even going to bother discussing this. 

[steven22]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 9:51pm

Saw Darren and Rebecca last night. I was pleasantly surprised with Darren. He was wonderful. I've seen NPH, MCH and JCM before. All have been wonderful. Of course, Rebecca was fantastic. Glad she's back on Broadway. 

[snl89]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 10:15pm

"If you guys are seriously ignorant to the fact that Hedwig was one of the few characters around, for a very long time, that trans people could see themselves in and they latched onto that, I'm not even going to bother discussing this."

 

I completely understand and respect that, but I still don't understand what that has to do with anything Darren said... he was never making any kind of dig at Hedwig as a character or at the trans community. My issue with what you were saying was that you took his quote entirely out of context when he wasn't even referring to post-op Hedwig at all but to "slip of a girly boy" Hansel. 

I just don't understand what there even is to be offended about, considering everything he described about Hedwig as a character was a)accurate and b)clearly coming from a place of admiration for her resilience despite everything she's been through. So how is that disrespectful in any way to the character or to the trans community?? 

[WitchWicked]

Posted: 5/10/15 at 8:24am

Does anyone know if there has been a mainstream critical review of this show / performer combo?  Not just Backlot, but perhaps the NYT?  Don't they usually review even guest performers?  All I've seen are for NPH or JCM.

I'll be coming in from way out of town and I've loved theatre since I was a kid; been reading this board for a while, but never joined.  I'd like to go to a show that's worthwhile.  "Act of God" is on my list and room for one more.

Updated On: 5/10/15 at 08:24 AM

[jarretSF]

Posted: 5/10/15 at 8:49am

I'm seeing this today, having only missed MCH, I've enjoyed every Hedwig I've seen, including Kevin Cahoon back in San Francisco.  I'm more nervous about the screaming Glee fans distracting from the show.  Has this been a problem?

[steven22]

Posted: 5/10/15 at 8:54am

When I saw the show Friday night I didn't notice any crazy screaming Glee fans. You'll be fine. 

Also, wanted to note that my TDF seats this past Friday were row E mezz aisle center. Fantastic seats. 

Updated On: 5/10/15 at 08:54 AM

[jarretSF]

Posted: 5/10/15 at 8:57am

Nice!  Mine are TDF as well.  I'm more excited to hear Rebecca at the end than anything.

[WitchWicked]

Posted: 5/11/15 at 2:38am

Pardon:  What are TDF seats?  What do they run?  Trying to plan trip to NYC

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 5/11/15 at 8:06am

TDF is the organization that runs the TKTS booths and does a ton of work for the theater community.  Go to TDF.org to find out more.

 

They also run a ticket discount program which is available to employees of non-profits and other groups.  Great prices, but the seats are "opaque", you don't know where you'll be sitting until you get to the theater.  Could be front row Center, could be last row of the Balcony

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/11/15 at 9:21am

TDF=Theater Development Fund

[WitchWicked]

Posted: 5/11/15 at 10:30pm

Thank you!

[fengshuihellnyc]

Posted: 5/13/15 at 4:58pm

Anyone know if Rebecca came out the stage door.  I was hoping to get her autograph as well as Darren's 

[Marway44]

Posted: 5/13/15 at 7:13pm

I did see Rebecca come out and sign but not nearly as many people wanted her autograph as they did for Lena. She actually stood there when no more people wanted her autograph and asked who wanted her to sign. She walked away upset.

As for the show, Darren was better than I thought. However, it seems like it's hard for him to get angry if that makes sense.

Rebecca I did not care for.  I was sort of thinking, this isn't a replacement, it's sort of a tribute show, again if that makes sense.

I hope our next stunt casting will be a good one!

 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/15/15 at 11:47am

Saw the show last night and I thought both Darren and Rebecca were really good. I think now that the crazy fangurl crowds have seen the show, we he's performing to some regular audiences, that's given him a chance to settle his performance a bit. Based on some clips from his first shows I've heard, his control of the songs has improved quite a bit now. Many of his song performances are quite strong, and you can see his singer background informs his performances. I thought his book scenes were all around very good, though do I agree with Marway44 that it seems hard for him to get fully angry, his reactions to Tommy's performance down the street never really fully convincing. That said, he had no trouble reaching those dark places with Yitzhak, and it was quite chilling when they did happen. Away from those dark scenes, Darren's youthful enthusiasm was infectious and made for a really fun night.

Speaking of Yitzhak, Rebecca Naomi Jones continues to wow me. While never as convincing as a man as Lena was able to pull off, she was strong on her own, and when she sang, it was unsurprisingly a glorious sound.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/15/15 at 1:02pm

The other night, Rebecca came out and just went down the line signing for everyone. The crowd was very happy to see her. It took her about 45 minutes to come out, whereas it took Darren more than 2 hours to come out.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/15/15 at 1:59pm

Jordan, please tell me you didn't stand outside some stage door for 2 hours!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/15/15 at 2:05pm

My niece's birthday is next month and she adores Darren. I did wait and got a poster he graciously signed to her, so it was worth it. I just didn't expect to wait so long! 

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/15/15 at 2:26pm

oh, in that case, good for you! Being such a good uncle.

[absolutbitter]

Posted: 5/15/15 at 2:32pm

"The other night, Rebecca came out and just went down the line signing for everyone. The crowd was very happy to see her. It took her about 45 minutes to come out, whereas it took Darren more than 2 hours to come out."

There seem to be M&G backstage after the show, for friends, friends of friends, etc., which may be taking longer.

Updated On: 5/15/15 at 02:32 PM

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 5/15/15 at 2:36pm

Hmmm....

 

http://blindgossip.com/?p=71330