July 25, 2014
Hedwig And The Angry Inch - Original Broadway Cast Recording
Steven Bergman READ TIME: 2 MIN.
The 2014 revival for the Broadway cast recording of the John Cameron Mitchell / Stephen Trask musical, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," has just released its soundtrack, featuring the recognized performances of Neil Patrick Harris (Tony Award nomination), Lena Hall (Tony Award winner) and the blistering sounds of the band, Angry Inch, led by music director / keyboardist, Justin Craig.
Harris provides an energetic and versatile display as Hedwig, the transgender, second-rate rock star, whose botched sex-change operation provides the title's moniker. Harris has proven himself a capable musical entertainer, with his various stints as host of award shows, but taking on the tortured soul of a rock-and-roll singer proved a much larger stretch for the sitcom actor, and yet he handles Trask's tunes with vigorous empathy.
Trask's score for "Hedwig" is fraught with aggressive homages to the legends of the punk era (Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, David Bowie), and combines them with a German sensibility that creates an angular, cohesive score, that will appeal to the listener who may not be familiar with the story of the show.
Lena Hall plays Hedwig's husband, Yitzhak, and though she doesn't get to truly shine on this recording, her few moments are powerful and memorable, especially in the opening number, "Tear It Down," which parallels Hedwig's persona with that of the Berlin Wall.
Members of the show's cult following will enjoy these new versions, including "Origin of Love," "Wicked Little Town," "Exquisite Corpse" and "Sugar Daddy," which was performed by the cast at this year's Tony Awards show. Harris' tenure in the Broadway company is coming to a close this summer, but the show has recouped its investment, so with the future running of the show uncertain, this head-banging reminder of Harris' interpretation will provide a welcome archive to fans of his "Angry Inch."
"Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Original Broadway Cast Recording)"
Neil Patrick Harris / John Cameron Mitchell / Stephen Trask
CD and digital formats
Atlantic Records
Steven Bergman is a Composer / Playwright / Performing Arts Educator based outside of Boston, MA.
