Hedwig writers defend non-trans casting in cancelled production

[qolbinau]

https://www.smh.com.au/culture/musicals/anyone-should-be-able-to-play-hedwig-creators-defend-show-over-casting-controversy-20201118-p56fpy.html

[ahhrealmonsters]

I saw the Broadway revival twice (once with Michael C. Hall and once with Taye Diggs), and after reading Mitchell & Trask's description of Hedwig, I'm very confused. Did I see a different show? Maybe I'm interpreting incorrectly, but I never saw Hedwig (the character) as a "young fem gay boy" - am I meant to imply that Hedwig is cisgender? Am I reading this all incorrectly? I always thought about gender diversity in both Hedwig & Yitzhak, and I've always had a question mark as to why they're (generally) played by cis men and women, respectively. Hmm....

[nasty_khakis]

I've always understood/interpreted Hedwig as a cis gay man who took his only shot of escaping East Berlin--marrying an American military officer and the only way to do  that was a quick and botched gender confirmation surgery.

I've always felt the role should be played by absolutely anyone, though. Cis men, trans men, cis women, trans women, non-bionary, any human.

[CT2NYC]

John Cameron Mitchell discussed this is an interview last year:

John Cameron Mitchell Explains Why He Believes 'Hedwig' Is Not Trans (advocate.com)

[Sutton Ross]

nasty_khakis said: "I've always understood/interpreted Hedwig as a cis gay man who took his only shot of escaping East Berlin--marrying an American militaryofficer andthe only way to do thatwasa quick and botched gender confirmationsurgery.

I've always felt the role should be played by absolutely anyone,though. Cis men, trans men, cis women, trans women, non-bionary, any human."

100%. Any human.

[HogansHero]

ahhrealmonsters said: "Did I see a different show? Maybe I'm interpreting incorrectly, but I never saw Hedwig (the character) as a "young fem gay boy" 

I'd say you were so taken with the amazing music that you didn't pay attention. Listen to Sugar Daddy. 

[Kad]

Yes, the text of the show is explicit that Hansel is a feminine gay boy who is coerced into having a sex change in order to flee East Germany, not to affirm his gender, and then presents as a woman (Hedwig) out of necessity.

The scenario (and the show itself) is certainly very queer, but not clearly defined on any sort of binary, whether it is male/female or cis/trans, which is the whole point. I think forcing it into that sort of box is detrimental.

[ahhrealmonsters]

HogansHero said: "ahhrealmonsters said: "Did I see a different show? Maybe I'm interpreting incorrectly, but I never saw Hedwig (the character) as a "young fem gay boy"

I'd say you were so takenwith the amazing music that you didn't pay attention. Listen to Sugar Daddy."

The amazing music and the magical energy in the theatre. Thanks for being kind about it and not calling me out - I genuinely appreciate it. :) I'll have to give the cast recording a closer listen.

[sparksatmidnight]

ahhrealmonsters, you can also check out the movie, a really superb adaptation for the screen (with John Cameron Mitchell himself as Hedwig)

[imeldasturn]

HogansHero said: "ahhrealmonsters said: "Did I see a different show? Maybe I'm interpreting incorrectly, but I never saw Hedwig (the character) as a "young fem gay boy"

I'd say you were so taken with the amazing music that you didn't pay attention. Listen to Sugar Daddy."

True - but I'd also say that both Michael C. Hall and Taye Diggs are somewhat "bizarre" casting and had a different energy, since they're more jacked and masculine than other androgynous performers like John Cameron Mitchell or Neil Patrick Harris. If you see only their Hedwig it's understandable that OP had that impression

[Jordan Catalano]

sparksatmidnight said: "ahhrealmonsters, you can also check out the movie, a really superb adaptation for the screen (with John Cameron Mitchell himself as Hedwig)"

The film is one of the best stage to screen adaptations ever made and (in my opinion) the soundtrack is far and away better than the OCR.

 

[Scarlet Leigh]

imeldasturn said: "HogansHero said: "ahhrealmonsters said: "Did I see a different show? Maybe I'm interpreting incorrectly, but I never saw Hedwig (the character) as a "young fem gay boy"

I'd say you were so taken with the amazing music that you didn't pay attention. Listen to Sugar Daddy."

True - but I'd also say that both Michael C. Hall and Taye Diggs are somewhat "bizarre"casting and had a different energy, since they're more jacked and masculine than other androgynous performers like John Cameron Mitchell or Neil Patrick Harris. If you see only their Hedwig it's understandable that OP had that impression"

One can also look at it as Hansel WAS a "young fem gay boy" but being that Hedwig never went through the full process of a sex change with hormone therapy, she still developed as Hansel normally would have. So having a big jacked guy is not outside the realm of possibility for Hedwig casting because her body still could have matured into that.

[bear88]

Jordan Catalano said: "sparksatmidnight said: "ahhrealmonsters, you can also check out the movie, a really superb adaptation for the screen (with John Cameron Mitchell himself as Hedwig)"

The film is one of the best stage to screen adaptations ever made and (in my opinion) the soundtrack is far and away better than the OCR.

I debated which version to get for a while and chose the soundtrack. The only thing that bugs me about it is the sequencing but I survive.