This is part of the documentary "Whether You Like It or Not: The Story of Hedwig" and it doesn't show the absolute roots but I think it deals a lot with public reaction, provocation and some of the other ideas of "solo performance." If you like it, you can watch the whole documentary of it on the Hedwig DVD. I can't find any more clips of this on YOUTUBE and I don't know how to rip it from my own copy! So, enjoy and if it doesn't make sense to you how it relates to our class then at least John Cameron Mitchell is a dreamboat.
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Zac, thanks for posting this. In addition to the fact that I'm a great fan of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, I completely see how this relates! The stuff about people's reactions (walking out, not knowing what critical standards to use, etc.) and also the space itself really reflect some of the issues surrounding solo performance in general. Even though Hedwig eventually moved on to be a very well-known, well-received show, its beginnings owe a lot to some of the folks we've discussed.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that this brings up in terms of community: I wonder if any of the people who actually lived in the hotel ever got to see the show or if it affected their lives in any way. As we move on to discussing community-based work and the economic and ethical issues surrounding it, you'll see what I mean. What differences are there between the drag/rock origins of Hedwig at Squeezebox and the full production at the Jane Street Theatre? It would be interesting to give the people who live in that "flophouse" a chance to tell their own stories in public if they wanted to do that.