What's your theory on Tommy Gnosis (obvious Hedwig spoilers)- Page 2

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 5:16pm

OH, I don't believe they become blended in the way I made it sound. Tommy remains his own person, even if he's left Hedwig. I meant that when Hedwig says he's looking for his other half, the one to make him whole, that Tommy is the one. Of course during Hedwig's monologue when they are about to make love, he says "he's the one"

[changinandhow]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 5:27pm

Alix - in the current production, doesn't Hedwig/Hansel wipe the cross off his head during Midnight Radio? I've only seen it from the back orch, so it may not be all the way gone, but at one point he definitely wipes his forehead and then looks at his hand and sees the paint.

[Alix]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 6:55pm

^^ Oh, does he? I saw it from the balcony...I don't remember that detail but it's definitely possible. Going again in August, will have to watch for it then.

Effed, just got home and looked at my book again...you're right, "Hedwig/Tommy" is only used once. Hmm. Once is enough to make me question my interpretation, though.

Ultimately, I love that it's not super clear what happens in the end. Very interesting to hear others' impressions!

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 9:40pm

That's one of the things I LOVE about this show. The ending is so ambiguous it can be taken so many ways. I'd never really given it much thought, just kind of assumed it was a two halves joining into one thing, until seeing the show again this past Sunday when a different theory popped into my head...

What if HEDWIG wasn't real? What if HEDWIG and her story were all an invention of Tommy's, in his head. He is so messed up from his repressed upbringing, and not being able to deal with his own sexuality that he invented this other persona to deal and by the end of the show he has moved on and doesn't need her any more and that is why he hands her off to Yitzak who is the one who needs her now. Tommy can now move on with his life as a complete individual.

Again, I'm not saying this is what I fully believe, but I thought it was an interesting interpretation to add to the mix.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 10:13pm

And we don't really know what happens with Yitzak. Hedwig kind of sets her free at the end. I think the end is Hedwig is now whole, and happy, and goes on with his life, sans Tommy and Yitzak!

[Kad]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 10:30pm

The script, I think, uses the cross as a symbol of knowledge (gnosis).

When Tommy sings Wicked Little Town, he has the knowledge of how he hurt Hedwig.

When Hedwig sings Midnight Radio, she has the knowledge of completion.

Updated On: 6/14/14 at 10:30 PM

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 10:37pm

I think it's interesting that on the cast recording, there is an obvious difference between the sound of Tommy's Wicked Little Town and the rest of the show. It sounds distant and coming from another place or device. Whether it's live from Times Square to the Broadway adjacent Belasco or from someplace internal, it's clearly not the same Hedwig sound as when she performs it "live" earlier.

Updated On: 6/13/14 at 10:37 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 10:40pm

I don't remember how Neil is doing it, but at the Jane st, it's sung with Tommy's midwest accent.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 11:09pm

I think Kad got it right three posts ago. And without over-simplifying the ending.

Updated On: 6/13/14 at 11:09 PM

[Alix]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 11:40pm

Yeah, I'd never thought of that, Kad, but I like it.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/14/14 at 9:18am

^^^^ Think about "The Origin of Love" and all human beings searching for completion in their "other half". (We still use the expression "better half"".)

I haven't seen the show on stage, so I don't have an opinion about Hedwig-as-Tommy in "Wicked Little Town", but finding completion in himself, without a lover/partner and without even performing one, complete gender is the only ending that makes sense to me.

ETA: "gnosis" in the Greek means more than mere "knowledge" in English. IIRC, gnosis doesn't refer to the acquisition of data; it's a deeper "knowing" more akin to that offered by Buddhist koans. The cross on the forehead is a symbol actually used by gnostic Christians in the early CE centuries, and the gesture itself is still used by Catholic priests (without the paint). Updated On: 6/14/14 at 09:18 AM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 6/14/14 at 10:55pm

For those interested, the newly published Broadway script has many new stage directions and changes.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/14/14 at 11:26pm

In the current production, Hedwig definitely wipes off the paint before "Midnight Radio."

The cross is a horcrux and Tommy is Hedwig's patronus.