Ladies and Gentleman....Taye Diggs is your next Hedwig — Page 19

I can't believe I'm reading that he's still butchering the "Angry Inch" spoken part. He mangled the words terribly when I saw him last week and it was painfully cringeworthy. I'm headed back to give him one more chance next week, and will hold my breath for that section of the song.

Updated On: 7/30/15 at 01:41 AM

"I agree that no one can tell your own story better than you, but Hedwig isn't JCM's story. Yes he wrote the show, but he did not live Hedwig's life. JCM has made that specifically clear."

It isn't literally John's story, but MANY elements of the story do spring from his experiences as growing up the child of a lifelong military man, not to mention the woman he and his friends would hang out with in her trailer who used to supposedly turn tricks to make ends meet. IMHO the author of a work is usually more in touch with the character and dramatics because it sprang directly from their mind.

The Broadway Bug I keep inside of he has officially been squashed by a man named Taye Diggs. His performance was truly horrible -- one of the worst I have EVER seen. He had MONTHS to prepare for this role and here he is forgetting lyrics, lines, choreography and everything in between. You know things are bad when Rebecca Naomi Jones is trying to keep your lifeboat from sinking. BRING BACK LENA AND JCM STAT!

I don't mean to sound mean when I say this. It's just I love Hedwig so much and I paid good money to see what I thought would be a continuation of the best Broadway production I have ever seen. What a joke.

"It's his story because he created it."

I think if someone thinks JCM is the best Hedwig because he's the best actor to convey the acting/singing and persona of JCM that's fine. If because he wrote the character he has the "internalized" conception of the character down pat as the writer envisioned, (again himself) fair enough.

However the reality is that many of the great performances of theather were NOT written by the actors who gave them life and magic on stage. The actors pulled something out of themselves, like all great actors do.

When I saw Patti breathe life into Evita it didn't matter she didn't "create" Evita on the written page.

Sure JCM has autobiographical elements in Hedwig, (many writers, such as Tennesee Williams do, even if they are not perfomers) and understands his concept of the character, but every actor has to dig in and give their concept of a written character. I remember Tennesse Williams saying that Vivien Leigh both in the West End production of "A Streetcar named Desire" and the movie surprised him, and brought things to Blanche, that he as the writer, had not with her acting.

So fine that some think that JCM is the best Hedwig, but I just think that because he wrote the character nobody can give as great if different Hedwig is just silly.

Caveat here, I really really liked Michael Cerveris interpretation of Hedwig.

""So fine that some think that JCM is the best Hedwig, but I just think that because he wrote the character nobody can give as great if different Hedwig is just silly."
So sorry that you inferred the only reason I say JCM is the best is because he wrote the story.
Beyond silly - just ridiculous."

Actually Jane I do think you think his is the best interpretation because you find his acting /performing exceptional, no?

I can't argue with that.

It just seemed to me from your comments you've made up your mind nobody can ever match him also because he "created" it. Did I get that wrong?

I want to add that I don't think anyone on this board experienced the phenomenon that I and hundred of others did, being part of the cult (and I did say cult) following that was at the Jane for every performance by John (and others but this is about the bond with John as Hedwig). We were all a part of one whole utterly devoted mass to Hedwig and John. Seeing him play the role became something other than a role. JCM was Hedwig for us. It was a deep love. I can't explain it if you weren't part of it.

So it's hard for me to let go of, as if I ever wanted to.

It isn't literally John's story, but MANY elements of the story do spring from his experiences as growing up the child of a lifelong military man, not to mention the woman he and his friends would hang out with in her trailer who used to supposedly turn tricks to make ends meet. IMHO the author of a work is usually more in touch with the character and dramatics because it sprang directly from their mind.

I can understand that. But I don't think that automatically means the original performer is always better at performing the role.. I think JCM knows Hedwig the most, but I personally found NPH to perform the role better. Not that big of a deal...

"I don't think that automatically means the original performer is always better at performing the role.. I think JCM knows Hedwig the most, but I personally found NPH to perform the role better. Not that big of a deal..."

The major difference is that JCM was creating a role FOR himself to perform, which means it was built, first and foremost, to showcase his strengths as well as challenge him in areas he wanted (and felt he needed) to be challenged artistically. It wasn't written standalone, and then he thought, "You know, maybe *I* should do this..."

I'm glad some people liked NPH better. I bought tickets to see every subsequent Hedwig on the $800 I made selling a single orchestra seat to someone who desperately wanted to see NPH's last show, heh.

"The major difference is that JCM was creating a role FOR himself to perform, which means it was built, first and foremost, to showcase his strengths as well as challenge him in areas he wanted (and felt he needed) to be challenged artistically. It wasn't written standalone, and then he thought, "You know, maybe *I* should do this..."

That's right Haterobics, and it makes big difference.

"I think the real test would be to find people who aren't Taye fans or Hedwig fans, but who just came to enjoy the show."

If you don't know the show or what to expect, you might like him?!

I think Michael was actually my favorite Hedwig* so far...

* I don't include JCM in Hedwig rankings.

"The major difference is that JCM was creating a role FOR himself to perform, which means it was built, first and foremost, to showcase his strengths as well as challenge him in areas he wanted (and felt he needed) to be challenged artistically. It wasn't written standalone, and then he thought, "You know, maybe *I* should do this..."

Don't really know what to tell ya. I was affected by NPH's performance more than JCM's performance. Don't exactly know why. NPH hit a chord in me that JCM did not. Not his fault or anything. Not anyone's fault really.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to the performance you give onstage. Everyone has their own favorite Hedwig and there's nothing wrong with that. I'm sure JCM isn't heartbroken that I liked Neil better than him.

Updated On: 7/30/15 at 06:42 PM