Euan Morton Talks Hedwig: 'What an Ugly Woman I Am!'

British actor Euan Morton comes to Boston next week as Hedwig, the titular character in the Tony-winning, glamrock musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." EDGE spoke with Morton about starring in the now iconic role of the embittered rocker with an amazing story to tell.

Hedwig Robinson, the titular character in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," has traveled a long way since first appearing off-Broadway in a seedy West Side hotel in 1998. Back then it was its creator, John Cameron Mitchell, who starred as the embittered genderqueer rocker who tells her story of escaping from East Germany to languish in a Midwest trailer park. Since then Hedwig has traveled around the world, finally making it to Broadway with Neil Patrick Harris three years ago. He won a Tony for his performance, as did the musical itself for Best Musical Revival.

That Broadway production took the road last year with Darren Criss playing Hedwig and Lena Hall (who also won a Tony for her Broadway performance) as Yitzhak, Hedwig's put-upon husband who performs in his band. Last November British actor Euan Morton took over as Hedwig and Hannah Corneau took over as Yitzhak for the remainder of the tour, which comes to Boston's Shubert Theatre under the auspices of the Boch Center on May 30 for a two-week run. (For more information, visit the Boch Center website.)

Morton is no stranger to glamrock/gender bending roles. In 2002 he starred as Boy George in the London production of "Taboo," for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award. He returned to the role when the musical came to New York the following year and was nominated for a Tony Award. He also won the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut.

"Euan Morton is a captivating Hedwig," wrote critic David Fox for Philadelphia Magazine when the production passed through that city last month. "He brings just the right sense of jaded European-ness (sometimes he seems to be channeling Marlene Dietrich), and he's marvelous in his sassy interplay with the audience. Morton also has a superb and very flexible voice; purely as singing, this is the most accomplished Hedwig I've heard. He also finds the lost, frightened quality underneath her audacious and shellacked exterior."

EDGE spoke to Morton recently about Hedwig.

A universal story

EDGE: Your Broadway debut was 'Taboo.' What was it like taking on Boy George?

Euan Morton: I was so nervous, but George was very good to me. He really helped relieve the pressure I was feeling. He told me to 'just be you, but dressed as me.' In the end, playing George was a blessing. It changed my life.

EDGE: How did portraying Boy George, prepare you to take on Hedwig?

Euan Morton: It's hard, especially when the audience knows both of them. The audience expects you to deliver and be good. For me, when you look like them, you already did most of your job and that helps sell the role to the audience.

EDGE: What do you like about Hedwig?

Euan Morton: She is different in so many ways. The way she tells her story is universal and it's a story that everyone can relate to. All humans have the same desire for love and acceptance. I believe you need to see how really different someone is to understand that we are really all the same.

EDGE: How does your Hedwig differ from others who have had the role?

Euan Morton: She makes you her own. The one thing I have learned in this role is never go to rehearsals with any perceived ideals. She takes over your voice, body, and experiences.

Not pretty

EDGE: First thoughts when you saw yourself as Hedwig?

Euan Morton: My God! What an ugly woman I am! I will say that while I am in this role, Hedwig will not be a pretty woman. Others have made her pretty, but not me.

EDGE: How do you connect to Hedwig personally and professionally?

Euan Morton: It's her search for self-acceptance and love that was so easy for me to connect to both personally and professionally. We are all searching internally for acceptance and the love of others. Love of others and love of self.

EDGE: What do you look for in an audience member when selecting them for your 'Sugar Daddy' scenes?

Euan Morton: Someone with a strong jaw and sexy hair. [He laughs] It always comes as a surprise as me, because I am talking and performing, I never know who I am going to choose. At one performance I accidentally chose a 90 year old man and I couldn't pretend it was the person next to him, because there was no one there. Wouldn't you know He gave me 90 years of his experiences in that one kiss. When I thought it would go horribly wrong, it turned out to be the best moment of the tour so far. It is human to dislike what is different and to think any other way of him at that time was wrong of me.

Hedwig - a big fat lump of delicious cake

EDGE: While doing some research on you, one reporter called you "Delicious.' What would you say makes you delicious?

Euan Morton: Delicious is such a wonderful word. I don't think I am delicious, but I do love a delicious piece of cake. I may be the only person to make Hedwig a big fat lump of delicious cake.

EDGE: What is the message you hope people take away with after seeing Hedwig?

Euan Morton: I hope the audience members leave feeling joyful and changed. I love at the end of the show it is like church and what a wonderful feeling you get. We are all searching for something and we may not all see things the same, but I hope after sharing the evening with Hedwig when you encounter someone different you will be able to accept them for who they are.

EDGE: Any dream roles that you would love to take on?

Euan Morton: A few years ago, I probably would have answered it with some great roles and characters, but at this point in my life and career while I am in-between roles, I just want to play myself well. When I can be my best self, then I will be able to do any role I get justice.

"Hedwig and The Angry Inch" will play at the Boch Center Shubert Theatre, Tuesday, May 30 - Sunday, June 11, 2017. Tickets start at $35.00 and are on sale at the Boch Center box office, visit the Boch Center website.