Review: Kyle Igneczi Dominates in Uptown Players' HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH

When Hedwig and the Angry Inch opened off-Broadway in 1998, I'd just entered high school. As a teenage theatre geek in Massachusetts, my only available resources were local theatres, and the few Broadway cast recordings sold at the nearby mall, so I remained oblivious. When the 2001 movie was later produced, I'd grown to identify as a member of the LGBT community, but queer independent films were far off my radar, despite the cult following that had quickly developed surrounding this particular film. Now, although I will miss the recent Broadway revival of HEDWIG (which will close on September 13), I've grown familiar with the material, thanks in part to YouTube, and many years of visiting the famous Musical Theatre Mondays at NYC's Splash bar (R.I.P.), which frequently showed clips of "Wig in a Box," "Wicked Little Town," and "The Origin of Love."

In case your knowledge of the material is like mine circa 1998-2003, here's a little background: Hedwig and the Angry Inch is the brainchild of writers Stephen Trash (music and lyrics) and John Cameron Mitchell (book), who famously created the role of Hedwig in the '98 off-Broadway version, in the film, and as a replacement for several months in the recent Broadway production. The show is a rock musical about a fictional rock band, led by a "queergender" East German vocalist named Hedwig. Formerly Hansel, Hedwig adopts a female persona after a flubbed sex-change operation, which she pursued in an effort to marry an American man and escape East Germany.

Local actor Kyle Igneczi has some rather large shoes to fill following the high-heeled imprints left not only by John Cameron Mitchel, but by the many successful actors who have "pulled the wig down from the shelf," including Neil Patrick Harris, Anthony Rapp, Michael C. Hall, Darren Criss, Taye Diggs - and even actress Ally Sheedy of THE BREAKFAST CLUB fame. Although Igneczi has appeared in local productions of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, DOGFIGHT, and BONNIE & CLYDE (as well as several national touring productions) the heterosexual singer/actor was certainly not an obvious choice for the gender-flexible title role. It wasn't until Uptown Players publicity debut of Igneczi's Hedwig makeover in early August that Dallas realized the actor could physically transform into the role, but did he have the emotional vulnerability? The vocal range? Could he storm the stage in heels?

From the second Igneczi entered the Katlita Humphreys Theatre on opening night, decorated in steep glitter boots, an enormous blonde wig and a cape, gone was any trace of the actor known for his boy next door image and masculine energy. There he was, molded into a "slip of a man," offering a career-making performance as he shared Hedwig's story about love, loss, and a one-inch mound of flesh. Although Igneczi is quite impressive on the rock-and-roll numbers like "Sugar Daddy" and "The Angry Inch," it is his vulnerability in "Hedwig's Lament" and "Exquisite Corpse" where the actor truly shines. The role also requires a smart actor, able to improvise and interact with different members of the audience, and Uptown Players has found the perfect performer for the occasion.

Throughout the show, Hedwig's assistant/back-up singer/husband, Yitzhak, lent support by setting the scene for the series of vignettes Hedwig told center stage. Although he had small moments here and there, it wasn't until the finale that Yitzhak found his way to the spotlight - but when he did, actress Grace Neeley's massive voice simply blew the audience away.

With its edgy themes, Hedwig and the Angry Inch might not be the kind of show to recommend for the whole family, but it's perfect for the diverse crowd that Uptown Players tends to gather. This show, particularly for Kyle Igneczi's dynamic performance, is one that will be celebrated much longer than its three-weekend run. Local theatre enthusiasts should put on some glitter and a pair of heels, and get over to the Kalita Humpreys Theatre, where HEDWIG runs though September 13th. Tickets are available at www.uptownplayers.org.

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