Umbrella Stage Company Delights with a Mind-Blowing “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”

Kirk Vanda as Hedwig in The Umbrella Stage Company‘s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”Photo by Briana Gately

By Michele Markarian

“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”. Text by John Cameron Mitchell. Music and Lyrics by Stephen Trask. Directed by Julia Deter. Presented by The Umbrella Stage Company, 40 Stow Street, Concord, through January 12.

I had no idea what to expect from “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”, running four days this weekend at the newly revamped theater space of Concord’s Umbrella Stage Company. I bought the soundtrack when it was released in the late 90s; the music was fun and unlike any musical theater I’d heard. My only frame of reference for the show was watching Neil Patrick Harris perform the role at the Tonys. A friend of mine called me up sputtering during that performance, right after Neil Patrick stepped from the stage mid song to kiss his husband on the mouth.  “Hedwig would never do that! It is not in character!” hissed my friend.

Neil Patrick Harris has nothing on Kirk Vanda, who reprises his role as Hedwig from last season in this production. Vanda is brilliant. Aided by a first-rate band, with musical direction by keyboardist David Wright, and the superb vocal and acting talent of Vanessa Calantropo, (husband Yitzhak) Vanda gives a performance that’s magnificent in its scope. The energy the entire team exudes during the two-hour show, performed without an intermission, is an intense labor of love that’s not to be missed.

Hedwig was formerly a man, Hansel, living in annexed East Germany with his cold German mother. As a boy, his mother had told him the tale (“The Origin of Love”) about annexed human beings, torn in two by angry gods and left with a longing for the other half. Hansel is convinced that his other half lies in the West, and after meeting a man named Luther, Hansel has a botched sex change operation that transforms him into Hedwig. Shortly after Hedwig marries and moves to Arizona, the Berlin Wall is destroyed, and Luther leaves her for a man. Such is her luck. It is only when Hedwig meets, through a babysitting gig, a future musician named Tommy that Hedwig decides she has met her other half. Unfortunately, Tommy is not on board. Hedwig’s current partner, Yitzhak, is also a man, a drag vocalist whose voice Hedwig is jealous of.  Hedwig agrees to take him on under one condition – he never dresses in drag again. Needless to say, their relationship is tense.

It’s a theatrical experience like no other. Deter’s capable direction keeps Vanda moving; the guy is a triple threat. The energy he puts out over the course of two hours, complete with costume and wig changes, is nothing short of other worldly. Vanda’s quips are au current – he gets in his digs on Jeffrey Epstein, Mike Pence, Matt Lauer, Kevin Spacey, Jamaica Plain and of course, Concord itself (“I am Thoreau-ly disappointed in you”). In addition to the impeccable musicianship, the acting is amazing. At the end, when Calantropo comes out as Yitzhak in drag, she – obviously a beautiful woman, from her headshot – manages to do it as a man. Even the band gets in on the action, adopting eastern European personalities of their own.

“Did you like the show?” I asked two women in the restroom afterwards.  

“Oh, yes,” they said.  “Hedwig was amazing, don’t you think?’

“Where are you from?” I queried, thinking they were Concord natives.  Turns out they were from Needham.  They had seen a show previously at the space, and were so pleased they had to come back.  The buzz is out on The Umbrella Stage Company.

“If you enjoy this concert, seek psychological counseling,” warns the announcer before the start of the production.  I guess I need help, because the first thing I did after getting in my car was call a friend and say, “Get tickets while you can!”  Now I’m telling you. For tickets and info, go to: https://theumbrellaarts.org/theater

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