Playwright: book by John Cameron Mitchell, music/lyrics by Steven Trask
At: Elemental Theater Company at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W.
Belmont Ave.
Phone: ( 773 ) 327-5252; $20
Runs through: May 7
On this gloomy Good Friday, a few playgoers garbed in carnival drag could be spotted in the lobby before the show. And during the big 'raise your hand' finale, back-row spectators reached for the sky in ecstatic affirmation. It wasn't The Rocky Horror Show yet—nobody threw gummy bears or eye-liner brushes—but this non-equity version of John Cameron Mitchell's sturdy cabaret musical has the moxie to generate its own little cult following.
Hedwig, the chanteuse of the title, is currently engaged on an endless tour throughout the remnants of the post-Soviet world—an odyssey that includes a gig at—whattaya know?—Theatre Building Chicago. Here, between songs, she recounts the story of a lovesick East German boy who underwent an unsuccessful sex-change operation in his search for the American Dream, Top 40 music, and his platonic 'better half'. Our sweet transvestite's aplomb occasionally crumbles under the twin distractions of her likewise cross-dressed amanuensis hinting at rebellion and the proximity of her faithless ex-boyfriend, who—we are told—is playing a concert across the street at Wrigley Field. Uh-huh.
Fortunately, plot is not what director Dan Nurczyk proposes to keep us awake from 11:40 p.m. to 1:15 a.m. in the garagelike South Room ( a kickoff time mandated by the unamplified Finn Festival next door in the West ) . What this Elemental Theatre Company production offers is Steven Trask's rock-your-ass score and Keith Stoneking's divalicious performance as Hedwig. Author Mitchell's interpretation may define the role for posterity, but Stoneking radiates charm even as he struts up the aisle and across the apron in stiltwalker boots to tease willing audience members. Further escalating the firepower are Alexandra Goodman on Melissa Etheridge-sized backup vocals, along with Brian Thomas, Nick Shelton, Andy McClung and Ezra Hozinsky as, respectively, Skszp, Krzyzhtoff, Jacek and Schlatko, aka the Angry Inch band.
'Before you can love another, you must first love yourself' might not be the most profound wisdom to emerge from a midnight romp at the theater, but neither was 'Don't dream it—Be it' 30 years ago. So enjoy the music and leave the rest to history.