Official JCM as Hedwig (2015 Edition) Thread — Page 25

I admire the bravery of HighFlyingAdored97. And after seeing the show 20 times now with all 4 Hedwigs, I will also say that I felt NPH was better IN THIS PARTICULAR PRODUCTION since it was very much tailored to his strengths and he has an increadible ability to fill a Broadway house with his charisma. For me, NPH is the Broadway Hedwig.

JCM is wonderful and I very much love this and all of his performances.

I was happy to get side orchestra seats for only $119 with my Amex card. Nice to get a little break from the 200 and 139 priced seats.

I think that's a pretty dismissive statement but I understand the context of this conversation. NPH's Hedwig elicited many emotions in me and I had a profound experience at the Belasco watching him in the role. So much so that I returned an additional 12 times and managed to have a similar experience each time. But I just haven't been able to recreate that with the subsequent Hedwigs, at least thus far. Perhaps it is I who is the Barbie doll from Vegas! But these things are subjective and I image no two theatregoers have the same experience and none can be qualified as good or bad.

Updated On: 4/6/15 at 06:20 PM

There is definitely a phenomenon that occurs involving the inevitable backlash once something reaches popular consensus as being good (or at least widely acknowledged). Those who like to think of themselves as purist or outside the mainstream are quick to dismiss anything that reaches a certain level of popularity.

Updated On: 4/6/15 at 06:36 PM

NPH was the first time I'd ever seen Hedwig, any Hedwig. So I thought he was pretty much the second coming of Christ. But when I saw JCM, I couldn't imagine anyone else in the role. He *is* Hedwig, while the others just play Hedwig, at least to me. I was lucky enough to see NPH twice (and get face-humped!) and MCH once. They were both great in the role. NPH was a consummate showman, and MCH was like a really butch Betty Boop. But I've seen JCM four times, and plan to see his last performance if I can swing it.

It's not so much that I changed my opinion of his performance as that I've thought the subsequent Hedwigs were better than him, so he suffers by comparison. But I absolutely enjoyed him in the role. J52 calling him the Broadway Hedwig is exactly why I think he's the weakest. Hedwig (the show) may be on Broadway, but Hedwig (the person) isn't Broadway. They built the entire conceit about having a one-night show on the set of a failed musical, acquired through sexual favors to Bob Wankel to explain why Hedwig is where she is. She doesn't belong there. NPH's performance was very entertaining, but he was too smooth, too perfect, too eager to please. Rannells is my fave after JCM because he brought more anger and bitterness than NPH. And JCM, to me, just IS Hedwig. He embodies her completely. It's amazing to witness.

The Guardian review sums up my feelings on this pretty well. To each their own, obviously, and if NPH meant a lot to someone as Hedwig, that's great. I love it when people connect to this show.

Updated On: 4/6/15 at 06:50 PM

This is an interesting discussion where everyone is right, but Jane and a few others express the depth of understanding of the piece as a whole. With any theatre criticism, it can help when the viewer has a vast understanding of the material.

The inception of Hedwig was her as a broken blossom-that was the original conceit. It was re-worked for Broadway in a more athletic and as Jane put it "Vegas-y" concept. This does not diminish Neil's work or his Tony. He earned them. He was great. However, to those who understood the initial pathos and darkness of the original conception, Neil was not the medium for that emotion. He did not deliver. I greatly enjoyed his interpretation, but it was not what I connected to originally about the piece.

As an example, the only Roses I have seen are Peters and LuPone. I wouldn't venture to say either was best since I never experienced Merman or Daly live.

I do not think people are comparing NPH to this incarnation of JCM. They are referring to that zeitgeist moment in time at the Jane Street Theatre. They are ones who truly understand.

Thank you Betty and Marvelous.

NPH was put in as the broadway opener because the producers are brilliant.

I never saw the show downtown. Loved the movie but that was the extent of my exposure. Saw NPH last summer and thought he was brilliant. His performance was exhilarating and hilarious and the opening chords of Origin of Love brought tears to my eyes. I spent much of his performance marveling at his athleticism, but I absolutely left the theater very satisfied and I was thrilled when he won the Tony. Also saw and very much enjoyed Rannells.

Then I saw JCM. It was a different show. An entirely different character. I felt that performance in my bones. I walked out of the theater and could not speak, got home and sat on my front stoop (in late January) for half an hour trying to sort out what had just happened to me. As so many have said, I loved NPH's portrayal of Hedwig, but with JCM, I feel that I'm seeing Hedwig herself.

This is a horrible example, but its like seeing the Pee Wee Herman show with some other actor as Pee Wee, then later Paul Rubens takes over the role.

Of course, there's more to it than that. JCM manages to be so uproariously funny and shockingly quick witted that you don't realize he's spending 2 hours breaking your heart until its too late.

Whatever your preference, its great to see this material getting so much renewed appreciation and discussion. And even the NPH doubters know that without him, we wouldn't have the master on stage right now :)

Updated On: 4/6/15 at 07:59 PM

Well, if that's how you see it.

i came to Hedwig through the film. all i know of the original off-broadway show comes through the documentary on the dvd, and the few random clips on youtube. so when i heard it was coming to broadway i was ecstatic, and thought the casting of NPH was inspired. i loved his performance. and being a big Dexter and Six Feet Under fan, i was doubly excited to see Michael C Hall. when i saw him first in November, i was underwhelmed which i blame completely on the baggage of having been such a fan of his in those other roles that i couldn't see past the performer to accept him in this role. which is why, in retrospect, i was so glad to get a 2nd unexpected chance to see him when he stood in for JCM in february. when i could finally shed the baggage i brought with me that first time, i could truly take in his performance and better appreciate it.

seeing JCM himself play the role is a dream come true. it's a completely different show with him than anyone else. i've only seen his post-injury shows, but having seen him first at the end of february and then again this past weekend, i can tell just from the amount of changes and differences in just over a month that he's made to the show, that it would have changed and evolved with him regardless of the injury. and perhaps the best part of JCM's performance is that he really brings the yitzhak relationship to the forefront. the previous performances yitzhak felt underutilized, the show was about hedwig and tommy and their story and yitzhak was like a bystander. JCM has really made the show about hedwig and yitzhak, and that is to its benefit. so glad i was able to see him with lena hall, she was great before but he brought out the best in her. also, JCM is by far the FUNNIEST hedwig. he inhabits the role so completely that he can ad-lib, go off script, and never once leave character. and all the new jokes and bits he's added to the show are just hilarious. seen JCM 4x now, and will be back for his final performance 4/26 and can't wait to see how much more the show has grown by then, and the differences that a new dynamic with the new yitzhak will bring.

i don't think it's fair to compare any other hedwig to JCM. it's like comparing an elvis impersonator to the King himself. no matter how good any other hedwig may be, they are just playing the role, but JCM created the character, he lived the character, he drew so much of the character from his own life. no one else can possibly embody the role the way he does. that said, everyone who's played the role has brought themselves to the character, emphasized different aspects of the character and perhaps glossed over others in the process, but having seen both NPH and MCH (though not AR), in the role, i felt both were excellent and gave amazing performances. it's certainly no criticism of any other hedwig to say the can't compare to JCM, and there's no need to tear down their performances either because they don't reach the same heights as JCM. if they weren't as emotionally satisfying as JCM himself, it's only because that's an impossible standard for any other actor in the role to live up to.

Updated On: 4/6/15 at 11:50 PM

A new drawing and layout.

Updated On: 4/7/15 at 05:32 AM

I saw the show literally dozens of times at Jane Street, and every performance of Hedwig at Squeezebox (and at the Public, and at Fez under Time Cafe). So I am speaking from a pretty knowledgeable place when I say that NPH's performance was and remains the best Hedwig I ever saw--and that goes for JCM's wonderful reincarnation of the role on Broadway. But to each his own.

Updated On: 4/7/15 at 11:39 AM