The funny conceit of the updated production of the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch now playing on Broadway is that it’s taking place on the set of another play—in this case, Hurt Locker: The Musical, sadly closed after one performance at the Belasco Theatre. To add to the joke, the floor of the theater is littered with fake Playbills for Hurt Locker—and the Playbill is a hilarious read for anyone who loves theater. Written by actress/comedian Amanda Duarte and Mike Albo (whose own play The Junket just finished its run at the Culture Project) the Playbill features everything a real Playbill would: cast bios (for Taye Diggs, Bobby Cannavale, and Michael Cerveris); an overwrought directors’ note; a “How Many Have You Seen?” insert featuring Jukebox: The Musical and The Entire Bible (performed by Fiona Shaw); even an ad for a luxury product (in this case, bars of gold).
It’s worth reading through the whole thing—it’s posted in the Playbill Archive (click forward to Page 11)—for the extremely funny details. I laughed at poor cast member Abdul Batin’s bio: “West End: Hamlet (Hamlet) … TV/Film: Homeland (Terrorist).” I laughed even more at the song list, which includes the romantic ballad “Mission Accomplished (With Your Body).” And it’s good to see that Adele Dazeem’s very talented sister D’Bree Dazeem is finally getting her big break. I really loved her in her solo shows I Am Not My Sister’s Creeper and If She’s Unavailable I’ll Do It.
Duarte and Albo will be presenting all the Playbill material that was cut for space at Dead Darlings, Duarte’s reading series, at Judson Memorial Church in New York May 14 at 8 p.m.
