Leo Grinberg as Hedwig. Photo by Wilson Freeman.
This is no ordinary award-winning musical. For one, the main character, Hedwig (Leo Grinberg) is a genderqueer, East German outsider. There are no sets since the main focus is Hedwig’s story as told through her fictional punk rock and roll band. Hedwig is a force of nature, with her 70s glam rock style and outrageous attitude. With music and lyrics by Stephen Trask and the book by John Cameron Mitchell, “Hedwig & the Angry Inch” is full of rage, vulnerability, and audience interaction.
Grinberg can carry off this crazy, wonderful role with sass, energy, and a certain degree of vulnerability…a show that embraces finding one’s genuine self.
The concept of the musical is watching Hedwig’s musical act as she follows rock star Tommy Gnosis’s (Canter Irene O’May) tour around the country. Occasionally, Hedwig opens a door onstage to listen to Tommy’s concert, which is playing in an adjoining venue. Since Tommy was Hedwig’s protégé, she is none too happy with his success after he abandoned her and performs her songs, along with the ones they wrote together.
Hedwig tells her life story, beginning as Hansel in Communist East Germany, a ‘girly slip’ of a man, searching for her other half. She finds him in Luther Robinson (Nicholas Miles), an American soldier, who takes Hansel/Hedwig to Kansas after her botched gender reassignment surgery. On their first anniversary, Luther leaves Hedwig for another man. That same day, Hedwig finds out the Berlin Wall has fallen so her sacrifice was for nothing. Hedwig decides to form a band called ‘The Angry Inch.’
Through a mix of dialogue and punk rock numbers, Hedwig relays her story while a video screen in the background mirrors the punk rock theme. Members of ‘The Angry Inch’ band offer a great sound, including Skshp on Keys (Michelle Henning) who desperately needs a vowel, Krzyzhtof on Guitar (Nick Jewett), Jeremy on Bass (Jared Davis), Schlatko on Drums (Jack Naden), and T**s and Clay on vocals (Cera Baker and Nicholas Miles, respectively).
Hedwig is all over the place throughout the production. Using her camera to video herself as she runs up and down the stairs, peers into Tommy’s concert, or just sings to the audience. Her energy is chaotic and wonderful. There is plenty of audience participation as Hedwig (Grinberg) makes her way among the tables to hit on viewers or throws candy into the crowds to represent Luther, her ‘Sugar Daddy.’
Hedwig is the star of the show, and fortunately, Grinberg can carry off this crazy, wonderful role with sass, energy, and a certain degree of vulnerability. It’s been 27 years since “Hedwig” was conceived, but it’s still a show that embraces finding one’s genuine self.
Read our “A Quick 5′ with Leo Grinberg here.
Running Time: Approximately one hour and 30 minutes with no intermission.
Advisory: Sexual references and profanity.
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” ran March 14-16, 2025, presented by by Iron Crow Theatre at M&T Bank Exchange at the Hippodrome, 401 W. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. For more information about Iron Crow Theatre’s upcoming productions, please go online.
