Pink as Hedwig?! - Page 3

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/15/14 at 2:06pm

Adam Duritz? I think you have to be attractive and thin to play Hedwig, no?

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 5/15/14 at 3:36pm

I adore Pink and think she should do a Broadway musical but she's not really right for Hedwig, IMHO. Nobody remembers the Sheedy debacle (or Sheedy herself for that matter) other than show fanatics like us so that's not a problem. I'm not wild about the idea of casting a woman. I think it dissipates the pathos and strange melancholy of the character in some way. Could Alan Cumming pull it off? I know he's a little long of tooth for it but what's sadder than an almost-transgender woman of a certain age?

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 5/15/14 at 3:44pm

What exactly is the story of Ally Sheedy's run in Hedwig? It seems like there was some drama, to put it mildly.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 5/15/14 at 3:48pm

There was more drama off than on the stage, that's for sure. But as Jane has so tastefully opined, this is not the place to go into it.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/15/14 at 3:59pm

"Could Alan Cumming pull it off? I know he's a little long of tooth for it but what's sadder than an almost-transgender woman of a certain age?"

Cumming's "Wicked Little Town"/"Wig in a Box" mashup is fantastic.

And, really, according to the show's timeline (with Hedwig being in his early-late twenties before the fall of the Wall), Cumming is pretty much the exact age the character should be.

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 5/15/14 at 4:18pm

As someone who thinks Pink can do anything, I would be beyond thrilled if this happened.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/15/14 at 4:51pm

"There was more drama off than on the stage"

LOL Wilmington, I'm not even talking about behind the scenes. What went on ON the stage is what was the horror show.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 5/15/14 at 4:57pm

I also love Alan's little Hedwig medley, and he now IS the right age since the timeline couldn't be scooted up. (Berlin Wall and all...)

I guess that means JCM is still the right age. I can't see him headlining this production for months, and doubt he wants to given the way he's talked in interviews, but maybe between marquee names...?

Also, does anybody know if that Hedwig sequel is still being planned? The idea makes me very nervous and also thrilled. Updated On: 5/15/14 at 04:57 PM

[brdway411]

Posted: 5/17/14 at 1:11am

Kermit the Frog as the M. C. in Cabaret?

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 3:35am

"So a female Hedwig doesn't work but we should buy an African American Rose or a white Eponine who grows up to black."

Clearly you aren't actually paying attention to the reasons listed by those that object to this idea.

Most of the objections pertain to acting concerns, the vocals and a need to alter the score, and the fact that historically speaking a female Hedwig already failed once, and history could repeat itself.

Now, as for your argument about colorblind casting... Colorblind casting is generally perceived to be OK when race is not a central issue or theme in a fully staged production. One could argue that Hedwig follows this suit. In this case gender is a central theme in the production. An argument could be made that it is imperative to the story and to Hedwig's journey that the role be played by a male. There is also the matter of suspension of disbelief at play here. For colorblind casting, audiences usually have no trouble suspending their disbelief. A possible hard buy would be an African American young Cosette and a blonde white older Cosette, but I honestly think an audience would adjust to that after a moment as well. This is aided by the fact that young Cosette is only on stage for about eight minutes. As for Hedwig, you'd have to buy for an entire 90 minutes that this very female voice and true female physique is coming from a male whose sex change operation got botched. It could be a tougher sell to an audience. I am not saying that a woman, or even Pink specifically, couldn't do it; however, I can see why producers, fans, and audiences might be concerned by the idea.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 4:22am

As for Hedwig, you'd have to buy for an entire 90 minutes that this very female voice and true female physique is coming from a male whose sex change operation got botched. It could be a tougher sell to an audience.

But that confuses me as well. So very few transgender people have been in the place of Hedwig the character is. The sex change was not in anyway in relation to how his mind worked, merely a means to an end. From that it was botched. I don't find that a stretch in anyway for a woman to play. Especially if they could turn out an incredibly good performance and thus whatever Pink (or anyone in the role) actually has between their legs becomes completely irrelevant.

[macnyc]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 6:43am

Article about Sheedy as Hedwig, describing some of the drama and the adjustments needed in having a woman play the role. Interesting!


http://observer.com/1999/10/stage-fright-ally-sheedy-misses-heaps-of-hedwig-shows/#axzz323urlxtl

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 10:51am

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 12:30pm

In that article Martha Plimpton said (of playing the role), "Oh my god, I couldn't," but actually I think she would have been an inspired choice.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 12:38pm

Right now, we're expected to believe - in almost every production of Hedwig produced nowadays, that the actor is playing someone who was at least 25 in 1987/88. But most actors playing Hedwig are not around 50.

And soon will come the day when the show can't be set present day because Hedwig would be 80. Or 90. Or 100.

But it'll be done regardless and no audience member will say, "I don't buy that."

Updated On: 5/18/14 at 12:38 PM

[lovebwy]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 12:59pm

4 letters come to mind.

YUCK.

[darquegk]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 1:22pm

Was Hedwig that old when the operation happened? I always read it as him having been a teenager, or at least a very young man, when it happened- maybe it's the reference to him as a "slip of a girlyboy" that always cemented the "former twink" association in my head.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 1:27pm

Does the difference of 5 years really matter? The point is Hedwig should be in his 50s by now.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 2:19pm

Hedwig specifically says he was in his "early late twenties" and I believe he even gives his exact age in the film (26, I think?).

[ajh]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 2:20pm

I'd love to see Pink as Hedwig. I think maybe you never get over your first (unless it was Ally Sheedy , in which case you don't get over them on a bad way) and mine was Michael Cerveris ....saw him 8 times and it still ranks in the top ten most extraordinary performances I've ever witnessed, but I would pay good money to see Pink tear through this. Hell yeah.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 8:48pm

The biggest requirement for the role? Acting chops. It simply isn't about whether a woman would be believable, or it would make artistic and other sense. There is a story to be told, not just a handful of songs to be sung; without a nuanced, highly skilled storyteller, creating a three-dimensional character, the vocals are almost meaningless. Michael Cerveris took the show to a new place, through the sheer force of his acting (and singing in service of same). If Pink can has the chops, why not? If she does not, nothing in vocal pyrotechnics will compensate.

Updated On: 5/18/14 at 08:48 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 8:54pm

It just doesn't work. There's too much suspending of disbelief.

[missthemountains]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 9:09pm

Couldn't we, for once--just this once--cast an actual trans person in the role? Not some washed up teen pop star? Please? Is that really asking too much?

[Kad]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 9:16pm

Putting aside the fact that Hedwig isn't a trans character - sure, name a trans actor/singer who can sell a Broadway show.

(I'm also not sure in what world P!nk would be considered washed up).

Updated On: 5/18/14 at 09:16 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/18/14 at 9:41pm

Putting aside the fact that Hedwig isn't a trans character

Biggest point RIGHT HERE. However, many have commandeered the character as Trans so they can bitch about someone "Cis" playing the role without any damn clue as to what the hell Hedwig is even about.