Newspapers / Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.) / June 7, 2003, edition 1 / Page 6
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Q-NOTES • JUNE 7 . 2003 BLUMENTHAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THE RAZZLE-DAZZLE mUSICAL SMASH Cuirantiy On .UBroadwayl^ JULY 1-6 • BELK THEATER TICKETS: $23-$6l 704.372.1000BLUmENTHAI.CENTEn.ORG GROUP DISCOUNTS)704.37S.1380 THE BEST OF BR0ADWAY...CL0SE TO HOME Charlotte's Actor's Theatre mounts Hedwig Former OJf-B'way and movie hit focuses on a performer with a botched sex-change job The Chances arc — unless you’ve been under a rock for the past few years — you've heard the story of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. |ohn Cameron Mitchell’s glam-rock musi cal tells the story of a little- known rock singer known as Hedwig Schmidt. Born Hansel, in East Berlin, he dreams of find ing his other half. in order to get over the still standing Berlin Wall to free dom, he reluctantly submits to a sex change operation to become Hedwig and marries an American Gl. The operation is botched — leaving Hedwig with, the aforementioned "angry inch.” Weeks later Hedwig watch es the Berlin Wall come down — realizing that much of her effort might have been in vain. To make matters worse, she’s dumped by the Cl in a Kansas City trailer park. Finding herself divorced and alone, Hedwig forms a rock band. While supporting herself with babysitting gigs, she falls for a general’s son she renames Tommy Gnosis, who steals her songs and becomes the rock star Hedwig always dreamed she’d be. In a mix of anger and vowed retribution, Hedwig sets out to achieve musical fame and fortune with a punk rock band called the Angry Inch. Charlotte’s Actor’s Theatre mounted the production May 28, with performances con tinuing through June 15. Actor Billy Ensley, an accomplished mainstay in Charlotte’s vibrant theatre scene, directs the local pro duction and plays the role of Hedwig, as well as a number of other characters. “I’ve never played a character in drag,” Ensley says with a chuckle. “The whole process is quite different from anything I’ve ever done. 1 guess it’s very similar to the show Cats. I have someone who does the makeup and that takes an hour itself.” But the challenges for Ensley don’t end there. “This is a very conflicted human being, and not really a woman because the sex change was not successful,” he continues. “He didn’t go through any of the psychologi cal or hormonal processes. “He basically just had the chop and it did n’t work. He is a completely androgynous figure that’s conflicted about his purpose in life, his sexuality and his gender." Ensley was sold on the idea of a Charlotte production of the play after he and his part- •Tier had an opportunity to see the show in New York. cast of the Actor's Theatre production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The partner was already a confirmed Hedwig fan — he was thrilled when Ensley jumped on the bandwagon. “1 fell in love with the play,” Ensley says enthusiastically. “1 contacted Dan Schumacher and Chip Decker, who run Actor’s Theater. We started a dialogue about the play and went to see a production of it at Trustus Theater in Columbia. We all agreed it was something cutting edge and current enough for Actor’s Theater.” “When [my partner] realized I was interest ed in doing the show he thought it was just one of the coolest things in the world,” Ensley recalls. “After he finally saw me in costume he just started laughing. He’s very supportive.” Ensley has spent most of his career in Charlotte theatre in productions of such plays as loseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Pippin and The Harvey Milk Show, among others. He freely admits Hedwig is a departure from his previous roles. “It’s a different type of performance, and one that I never really thought I’d do,” he says with a laugh. “I never wanted to see if I could pull off looking like a girl, and to be honest with you, I don’t think I pull off a very good looking see HEDWIG on 22 BARBARA HOLLINGSWORTH ATTORNEY & MEDIATOR Specializing in Negotiation and Mediation of Relationship Issues Domestic Partnership Agreements Collaborative Negotiation & Mediation of Disputes Wills & Powers of Attorney 704/435^8241 6725 Robinson Church Road • Harrisburg, NC 28075
Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
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June 7, 2003, edition 1
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