The jabroni (or gerbrony or gibrony) on NY1 just reported that Neil Patrick Harris would be returning to the Broadway stage next season in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY WITCH. Lol! What a jabroni!
I was away from the board yesterday, and I don't have time to read all the posts, but I'm sure I speak for everyone on BroadwayWorld when I say that THIS IS THRILLING NEWS, because NPH will be brilliant in the role and the play and music will sound WONDERFUL in a small Broadway theater.
Probably irrelevant, but academic/English major instinct makes me want to say this:
In English, the standard spelling is "jabroni," as anyone who was in elementary middle school during the WWF boom will remember from T-shirts, folders and lunchboxes. Using "gibroni" is still acceptable because it's Italian, but there is at least one standard way to spell it.
I'm excited to see what he can do with the role. I remember being really impressed with his tenor range in the Assassins revival. He can act. He has stage presence. He can move. He can sing.
The big question mark for me is if he can get the edge in his voice to pull off the big rock moments. Hedwig needs a little gravel.
As for people saying it'll just be a star turn, what the heck do you think Hedwig is? It's mostly a series of monologues separated by songs about the title character. The onstage interactions with the bandmates are secondary to the story of Hedwig. Of course it's a star turn. It's also not the best known show, so of course they want to minimize risk by casting a star. At least they chose one who can sing, act, move well, and is passionate about theater.
Since when has everyone on this or any other theater board agreed on any given topic?
Irrespective of whether he can meet the demands of a high-octane performance eight times a week (is Hedwig now fortysomething??), I wonder whether Harris will be able to fill the theater enacting material that may not align with the tastes of his TV fans. We shall see.
Oh John Adams, you've only had a momentary lapse of gibroniism. As soon as you see a clip of Harris/Hedwig and you say the six most gorgeous words in the American language: "You were right. I was wrong," all will be forgotten.
MOST of the rest of them, however, are certifiable gibronis through and through.
wow, this is nothing new but the amount of anger coming from the NPH supporters towards the others is amazing. (yes, amazing). It's like someone is threatening to kill your pet. Don't take it so personally folks!
And btw, Luther lures Hedwig, not the other way around. Remember the candy trail?
Some of y'all are pretty naive...just because an actor has a "Skill set" or is "Great live" or was "Wonderful in Company and Assassins" doesn't mean they'll be great as Hedwig. I love NPH. I've always been a big fan of his...I loved him in Assassins! But, this casting is so far off the mark it's laughable. While I'm going to have to obviously hold my final judgements until after I see this...I'm afraid to predict that NPH is going to fall quite short of everyone's expectations. When you're not right for a role...you're just not right for a role. And I'm sorry Finding Namo, but your banter is very annoying. This is a Broadway message board...leave people alone whose opinions vary from your's. And I agree, this is a show that should definitely NOT come to Broadway. Worst idea ever.
I don't really know enough about Hedwig to form an opinion as whether NPH is "right" or not. After hearing about Hedwig for so long, I'm just mighty excited to have the opportunity to see it for myself.
Question: looking on iTunes, there seems to be two different albums....I'm assuming one from the film and one from an off b'way production. Any advice on choosing one?
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
For me, the most compelling performances can be those that are against type. So, when I think of Hedwig, NPH is not the first name that comes to mind. For many roles, the first name that comes to mind is someone whose performance I can clearly envision, and while that performer still has the capability to go beyond my expectations, my anticipation is not piqued. So, I'm very much looking for to seeing what NPH can do with this.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
dramamama, I love both recordings, but if you only want one go with the OCR. It's a little more rough around the edges and "gritty." The movie soundtrack is perhaps a bit too polished and precise, but still is wonderful in its own right.
If you haven't seen the film you absolutely must.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!