What's your theory on Tommy Gnosis (obvious Hedwig spoilers)

is he Hedwig's alter ego/other personality? Or is he really the kid described in the show?

From the Musical I get one feeling, but from the movie it plays out the other way for me.

This^.

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Two

The only thing that isn't clear about the piece for me is the the final sequence of the last four songs, which blurs time, place, and character.

Otherwise, the separation of Hedwig and Tommy is distinct (in the show, the presence of the concert outside; in the film, the physical presence of Tommy in the world).

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Updated On: 6/13/14 at 12:07 PM

The revival has Yitzhak open the stage door to deliberately have the sounds of the concert enter the theatre.

Not to mention the presence of the projected images of Hedwig in a tabloid in relation to Tommy (which I believe is noted in the script, unlike having Yitzhak open the door which is a staging decision by Mayer).

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Updated On: 6/13/14 at 12:11 PM

Hedwig doesn't appear as Tommy, the actor playing Hedwig appears as Tommy. Just like Yitzhak being played by a woman, this is just another very theatrical aspect of the show.

Just because they are two distinct people in the movie doesn't really mean anything. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton were both distinct people in Fight Club.

My take has always been that this is not Tommy but Hedwig's manifestation of true identity at the end. Hedwig was their own person until Luther conned him into being more "female". Meeting Tommy and writing for him was an extension of Hedwig's self. Hedwig saw their self in Tommy too. So at the end I feel like Hedwig sheds a lot of the exterior and becomes Hansel again.

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Bettyboy, that's how I read it as well. Thanks for being so articulate.

I feel like Hansel struggled with gender expression after the botched surgery and being left by Luther. At the end Hedwig realizes that they can express themselves however they choose regardless of what is between their legs. Which accounts for John Cameron Mitchell walking outside naked in the film-no more fear or shame. Total acceptance.

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Mostly agree with all of this (definitely think Hedwig and Tommy are two different people), but I have another question I've been thinking about lately: Why does Hedwig have Tommy's silver cross on his forehead during "Midnight Radio"? I realize in the stage show this could just be a practical thing, since the cross was already on the actor's forehead for "Wicked Little Town" (though I don't think it would be too hard to find a discreet way to wipe the makeup off). But JCM is wearing the cross in that scene in the movie, too, and obviously that was a purposeful choice. I never understood this, since I always thought it was Hedwig singing that song at the end, but I reread the script a few days ago (largely because I was curious about some of the stage directions), and there it says very clearly that Tommy sings "Wicked Little Town," and then Hedwig/Tommy sings "Midnight Radio." Thoughts?

Updated On: 6/13/14 at 03:31 PM

I love this thread! it shows that the story is left to interpretation. Purposely.

My own inference is that in the stage show, there are still two separate people, but we never see Tommy. After Wicked little Town reprise, I believe that the reason we see Hedwig stripped of his drag and the appearance of the cross, indicates that Tommy indeed was the other half and now Hedwig is whole, with the blending of both.

In the film, I think it's clear that there are two different people, and the blending of them was apparent in the scene with the hand mirror.

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Alix, the Tommy/Hedwig note is only mentioned once, immediately after the Wicked Little Town Reprise. Then the stage directions go back to just Hedwig.

I DO think they become "blended", but not literally the same person. We are all changed forever by the relationships we have. There will always be a part of Tommy in Hedwig, and vice versa. The silver cross is a symbol of that to me. Hedwig is taking what she learned, accepting it as a part of her, and starting a new chapter. And she isn't so angry.