Random Maxx

From the moment we walked into the Cabot Theatre to see the Chamber Theatre's "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," my date for the evening - who was dressed like Hedwig in true "Rocky Horror" audience participation style - received numerous looks ranging from smug to bemused.

The crowd was surprisingly over-50 and dapperly dressed as if about to enjoy a musical about feline antics rather than a rock opera depicting the life of a cross-dressing song stylist with a botched sex change.

Were they ready for the story - based on Plato's Symposium on the Origin of Love -- about a boy who lets a quack hack between his legs just so he can marry an American and get beyond the East Berlin Wall? Only to end up abandoned and scarred-physically and emotionally-in a trailer park in Kansas, pining for his true soul mate?

The answer is yes, thanks to David Colbert's incredibly charismatic performance as Hedwig.

Colbert is every bit as racy, gender ambiguous and lovable as John Cameron Mitchell who played the lonely, dirty-mouthed diva in the film version. Colbert's voice is incredible, his German accent is dead on, and his appearance - from the butter yellow wig to the Saran Wrap-esque dress showing off his rippin' physique and "angry inch" between his legs -- is a gender-bending, mind-blowing transformation. (Check out Colbert's fresh-faced headshot in the program.)

Colbert dishes up an equally as stellar performance as Tommy Gnosis, a geek-turned-rock star whom Hedwig forms a sexual and musical relationship with, only to be once again used and dumped. But this time Hedwig is certain Gnosis was the other half she has searched for all of her life and tormented by his mainstream success with the music they created together.

In short, Colbert's heartfelt portrayal of Hedwig made even the stuffy feel smitten, with the exception of one audience member who ditched out when Hedwig went into the gory details of her butchered boy part. And although another viewer was shell shocked when straddled by the horny Hedwig, another laughed when she capped on his outfit and made a joke about River Hills. (The dialogue includes numerous Milwaukee references, which at times is a bit corny.)

Local band Random Maxx performs a spectacular live score and is perfect as Hedwig's pot-smoking, bird-flipping backup band. Although they have virtually no lines, the band members create intriguing and humorous characters through their playing style, costumes and facial expressions, most notably keyboardist Mary Morales.

By the mid-point of the 90-minute performance, the audience - including the woman to our right who "shhhed" us for laughing too loud -- sang along with the anthem track "Wig in a Box" and by the end of the poignant rock opera all arms were in the air and waving per Hedwig's request, followed by hooting, hollering and a standing ovation for Colbert.

The feel-good ending rivals the final moments of "Mamma Mia" and made us wish tickets were a little lower in price so more rock-n-rollers and diehard Hedwig groupies could catch this incredible performance.

Best of all, on the way out, my Hedwig-dressed date received smiles and nods instead of stares. Why? Because all of us - boys and girls alike -- were head over heels for Hedwig.

"Hedwig and the Angry Inch" runs through Sept. 5 at the Cabot Theatre, 158 N. Broadway, call (414) 276-8842 for ticket information.