Hedwig and the Angry Inch at The Sinclair

As one of Jacksonville’s staples of entertainment, the Alhambra Dinner Theatre, has come to an end, at least tentatively, others are looking for ways to fulfill the hole that was left behind. When Tom asked me if I wanted to cover the opening night for the production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Sinclair, with promises of free admission for two and some drinks on the house, I agreed to do so; it was Friday night and sounded like it would be my cheapest route for a good time.
Upon arrival, and maybe it’s my fault for getting stoned prior to the show, there were some miscommunications about my entry fee. Although the situation was quickly resolved, I was only disappointed to find that, in the spirit of trans-gendered rock operas, the only free drink was a pink concoction that consisted of a mixture of liqueurs, garnished with a strawberry; I ordered the pale ale and found a table in the back, as the performance was about to commence.
The introduction was just as the film portrays and the authenticity doesn’t fizzle out. All of the songs were dead on and Hedwig, played by Josh Waller, was well received. Although the stage room was limited, Waller brought the rest of the bar, as well as its patrons, in on the act. This performance of Hedwig and the Angry Inch was, definitely, a fresh experience and while the similarities are notable, it is the differences that set it apart from the film.
As Jacksonville strives to create and maintain a viable art scene, it is imperative that we support what’s going on. There will be performances on October 2nd and 3rd, then on the 7th, during Art Walk, the 8th, and the 10th. All performances start promptly at 9:30, so don’t “drag” ass. (Sorry, I had to end it with a bad pun.)
Designer and Stylist: Joy A Smith
Director: Christopher P. Farrell
And the cast…
Hedwig: Josh Waller
Ythzak: Maya Adkins
Jacek: Ryan Turk
Schlatko: John Boote
Krzyzhtof: Brennan Hammil
Skszp: Arron Marshall
Reviewed by John Touchton