.: Hedwig Sunday :.

I think my only mistake that day was to pop in the "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" DVD that morning. For one thing, the PS2 it was playing on was being a bitch. Frustrating. But the DVD ever so slightly colored a wonderful production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch playing at Chicago's American Theatre Company.

First, we had to walk into the ATC space via the alleyway. Making our way to our seats was like making our way through the maze of an underground club adorned with torn and aged concert posters. Upon closer examination these posters are from local Chicago clubs and concert venues, most importantly Martyr's, which is right next door. I was excited to read "The Cure", "The Dead Kennedys" and others lining the walls of the theater... before the show started...

I'm not even sure how to explain the plot of "Hedwig" so I'm just going to talk about it as a concert knowing full well its a play. Hedwig (Nick Garrison) stormed the stage and the back up band was solid. The video/photo media background was fantastic especially in the space. Impressive but for a while there I'd felt that it was holding itself up well to the movie.

Yet the audience interaction was exciting and a lil bit disgusting bodily fluid-wise. That's what finally pushed me to accept this production beyond what I had already seen of it as a movie or the reputation as a play. This piece made such fantastic references to Chicago and its music scene. It was all its own! That and Hedwig called my friend Laura and I (and the few other Asians in the row)out for being the soy sauce to the white rice in the audience.

The rhythm and the timing of the entire production built nicely to the wonderful and emotional ending. Just like a really really fantastic concert...

Finally, we were lucky enough to get rare encore. Hedwig, Yitzhak, and the Angry Inch busted out with Cheap Trick's "Surrender". It twas awesome!

I so want to rock out with some karaoke or Rock Band :) Hopefully, I'll see it again before their additional two weeks ends. You can check out some video and grab some tickets at the ATC site.