"It really hits on the history of American rock 'n' roll," Gustafson said.

"The Angry Inch" is Hedwig's band: Jane Ferman on keyboard, Steve Collins on lead guitar, Ben Gerhard on bass, Matt Farnsworth on drums and Mike Shurmer on rhythm guitar.

Irene Saxton on rhythm guitar and Jake Stults on lead guitar were in the musical's earlier performances, but left to get married. Gustafson picks up the role of Yitzack, also formerly played by Saxton.

Video artists Kevin Co and Kathy Brennan developed the film and still projections that illustrate the story. Gustafson said she's looking forward to doing rear projection of those images at the Pier One.

Kilcher has stunned and moved audiences with his performance as Hedwig. Known more widely as a musician, Kilcher, 33, plays regularly with his band, Yellow Cabin, every Wednesday night at the Down East Saloon. He opened last week for Jewel, his sister, in Homer and Anchorage, and has performed with his father, Atz Kilcher. The last time he acted at Pier One was 17 years ago -- as Elvis

"I've had a great time with it," he said of Hedwig. "I've been Elvis and now I'm a transsexual."

Although some might see Hedwig as bizarre, there's a common theme to his story, Kilcher said.

"As much as a freak Hedwig may be, there's a way he relates to a lot of people on different levels," he said.

Hedwig is an immigrant coming to America trying to make his fortune and a confused young man trying to understand his identity.

"We're all a bit awkward. We're all a bit strange," Kilcher said.

Moving from rehearsal to performance, Kilcher said at first he didn't know how he would make the role work. He focused on memorizing the massive monologue.

"Without being in full drag, it was hard to imagine," he said. "It wasn't until the first day at the Bidarka I dropped into that role."

As a musician, Kilcher connected to the score.

"The music is just really moving," he said. "I find myself getting caught up in the music, and put all myself in that."

Reaction to "Hedwig" has been varied. The most common comment?

"'Nice legs' is one, which is news to me," Kilcher said. "People are just blown away, being that I haven't done any acting for so long," he added.

A few tourists walked out on a dress rehearsal at The Saltry, Gustafson said. Visitors had been told there would be a play on the deck outside, but not everyone was prepared for the content.

"We had the sublime experience of being walked out on," Gustafson said. "What that tells me is that Atz Lee is totally living Hedwig's life."

"It was one of the strange moments in 'Hedwig,'" Kilcher said. "There were some very quiet, awkward moments where I could easily have buckled and thought, I don't want to put them through this."

"I just pushed myself," Kilcher added. "Some of the local Cove people loved it, some of the tourists loved it and some of the tourists walked around the boardwalk."

In some Homer shows, people did walk out -- and came back.

"They said, 'I'm sorry I had to leave. I was in tears. I had to take a moment and come back in,'" Kilcher said audiences told him. "That's the kind of feedback where you realize what an impact you're having."

Gustafson paid for the rights to show "Hedwig" in Southcentral Alaska using last fall's permanent fund dividend and energy rebate. The earlier shows were fundraisers for Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic, raising $5,000.

After its two-week run at Pier One, "Hedwig" moves on to a venue where audiences won't likely walk out -- Mad Myrna's, an Anchorage bar that frequently has drag queen shows. It plays two shows Sept. 26, with exact times to be determined. Admission is $15 at the bar at 530 East Fifth Avenue.

"It's going to be the final experience for me," Kilcher said."I've done it for the tour boat crowd, the Homer crowd. Now I get to go up there and have real drag queens judge me."

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong.@homernews.com.