Some pray that one day Christ will come a'-callin'
They light a candle and hope that it glows
And some just lie there crying for him to come and find them
But when he comes they don't know how to go
Last weekend, I had the great pleasure of seeing a phenomenal performance of Spring Awakening at the gorgeous Paramount Theater in Seattle. We’ve gotten incredibly lucky with all of the fantastic musicals that have been coming through lately, but I feel particularly privileged to have finally seen this powerful production for myself. I think I might finally understand how it feels to be a Renthead. I loved everything about Spring Awakening—the simple staging, the evocative music and lyrics, the complete disregard for propriety and complete and utter passion with which the story was told and performed. Without a doubt, this musical has earned a place amongst my top favorite musicals of all time, right up there with Wicked, Phantom, Sweeney Todd, and My Fair Lady. (And, um, lots more, but we really don't have the time right now...) I haven’t been able to stop listening the soundtrack that I downloaded immediately after getting home from the theater, and I can’t lay my head down to sleep at night without thinking about all of the feelings that the story brought out in me.
The play is set in a small German town in the 1890s, but really, the setting could be anywhere at any time as long as we continue to live in a society that frowns upon sex in all of its forms and all talk of sex as a dirty, shameful thing and sweeps it under the rug in the hopes that if we don’t educate our youth about the mechanics, they won’t go exploring them on their own. But of course, they will, and the less they know about what they’re doing, the more tragic the probable outcome. Thinking that one can only be impregnated by one’s husband, for example.
The cast is small—there are only three main characters, four or five supporting, a small ensemble, and then two older actors that play all of the adult characters. This ingenious casting concept did a spectacular job of conveying a sense of anonymity to all of the parents and teachers included in the story, and placing the spotlight on the emotions and actions of the school-age characters. The story revolves mainly around Wendla, a naïve and curious girl balanced precariously on the edge of womanhood, Melchior, the handsome, outspoken, brilliant, and rebellious boy who captures Wendla’s fascination, and Moritz, the class slacker with a heart of gold and hidden vulnerability.
The plot at its simplest level explores the “Spring Awakening” that occurs in all of our lives when we hit our early to mid-teens and suddenly become nothing but walking bundles of hormones and anxiety. At its deepest level, it is an exploration of how all of those changes can truly screw us up if we experience them without any sort of support system, or understanding of what is going on in our lives and between our legs.
Something happens when we leave our teenage years behind. We convince ourselves that all of that angst and drama was silly and frivolous, that our problems weren’t real like they are now that we are faced with mortgages, taxes, and “real life”. We smile indulgently when we think of the tears we shed over the heartache and confusion we felt all of those years ago, laugh at our melodramatic diary entries and poems, but as hard as we try to laugh that pain away, it is part of what made us who we are today. We can’t take teenage angst seriously, because to do so would mean that we would have to take our own teen selves seriously, and it’s far easier to laugh at ourselves and congratulate ourselves on how far we’ve come since then.
Spring Awakening certainly isn’t for everyone. It deals with topics such as teen suicide, homosexuality, child abuse in all of its forms, as well as teen sex and pregnancy in very explicit ways, and the language is certainly R rated. But I think that’s what made it so hauntingly real. As much as we don’t like to think about it, real life isn’t always very nice, and it certainly isn’t G rated, and while I certainly welcome an escape from that reality, it’s also refreshing to see a group of incredibly talented performers get up on stage and rock you to the core with their honesty.
Listening
For the hope, for the new life
Something beautiful, a new chance
Hear its whispering
There again
For the hope, for the new life
Something beautiful, a new chance
Hear its whispering
There again
The play is set in a small German town in the 1890s, but really, the setting could be anywhere at any time as long as we continue to live in a society that frowns upon sex in all of its forms and all talk of sex as a dirty, shameful thing and sweeps it under the rug in the hopes that if we don’t educate our youth about the mechanics, they won’t go exploring them on their own. But of course, they will, and the less they know about what they’re doing, the more tragic the probable outcome. Thinking that one can only be impregnated by one’s husband, for example.
You wanna laugh, it’s too absurd
You start to ask, can’t hear a word
You want to crash and burn
You start to cave, you start to cry
You try to run, nowhere to hide
You want to crumble up, and close that door
You start to ask, can’t hear a word
You want to crash and burn
You start to cave, you start to cry
You try to run, nowhere to hide
You want to crumble up, and close that door
The cast is small—there are only three main characters, four or five supporting, a small ensemble, and then two older actors that play all of the adult characters. This ingenious casting concept did a spectacular job of conveying a sense of anonymity to all of the parents and teachers included in the story, and placing the spotlight on the emotions and actions of the school-age characters. The story revolves mainly around Wendla, a naïve and curious girl balanced precariously on the edge of womanhood, Melchior, the handsome, outspoken, brilliant, and rebellious boy who captures Wendla’s fascination, and Moritz, the class slacker with a heart of gold and hidden vulnerability.
It’s the bitch of living and trying to get ahead
It’s the bitch of living just getting out of bed
It’s the bitch of living and getting what you get
It’s the bitch of living just getting out of bed
It’s the bitch of living and getting what you get
The plot at its simplest level explores the “Spring Awakening” that occurs in all of our lives when we hit our early to mid-teens and suddenly become nothing but walking bundles of hormones and anxiety. At its deepest level, it is an exploration of how all of those changes can truly screw us up if we experience them without any sort of support system, or understanding of what is going on in our lives and between our legs.
Where I go, when I go there
No more weeping anymore
Only in and out your lips
The broken wishes, washing with them, to shore
No more weeping anymore
Only in and out your lips
The broken wishes, washing with them, to shore
Something happens when we leave our teenage years behind. We convince ourselves that all of that angst and drama was silly and frivolous, that our problems weren’t real like they are now that we are faced with mortgages, taxes, and “real life”. We smile indulgently when we think of the tears we shed over the heartache and confusion we felt all of those years ago, laugh at our melodramatic diary entries and poems, but as hard as we try to laugh that pain away, it is part of what made us who we are today. We can’t take teenage angst seriously, because to do so would mean that we would have to take our own teen selves seriously, and it’s far easier to laugh at ourselves and congratulate ourselves on how far we’ve come since then.
Oh I believe
There is love in heaven
All will be forgiven
There is love in heaven
All will be forgiven
There is love in heaven
All will be forgiven
There is love in heaven
All will be forgiven
Spring Awakening certainly isn’t for everyone. It deals with topics such as teen suicide, homosexuality, child abuse in all of its forms, as well as teen sex and pregnancy in very explicit ways, and the language is certainly R rated. But I think that’s what made it so hauntingly real. As much as we don’t like to think about it, real life isn’t always very nice, and it certainly isn’t G rated, and while I certainly welcome an escape from that reality, it’s also refreshing to see a group of incredibly talented performers get up on stage and rock you to the core with their honesty.
There’s so much more to find –
Another dream, another love you’ll hold
Still you know
To trust your own true mind
On your way – you are not alone
There are those who still know
Another dream, another love you’ll hold
Still you know
To trust your own true mind
On your way – you are not alone
There are those who still know
After discovering Spring Awakening when they won their slew of Tony's a couple years back, I still can't stop listening to the soundtrack. It still gives me goosebumps. Favorite song? Don't do Sadness. Close Second? The Dark I Know Well.
I'm glad you got a chance to experience it. You should read the play. That's a real eye opener! :)
Posted by: Miriam | October 23, 2008 at 02:08 PM
Spring Awakening is on my short list of must-see shows. Someday, someday.
Posted by: Heidi Renée | October 23, 2008 at 03:58 PM
I haven't heard of this until now, and I'm curious if it comes anywhere around here because I'd like to check it out.
Anything true to reality is on my list of must-sees.
Posted by: E.P. | October 23, 2008 at 05:14 PM
I loved everything about Spring Awakening. Lyrics, music, performers, EVERYTHING!
I would see it again. :)
Posted by: Lacey Bean | October 23, 2008 at 10:52 PM
Oh my goodness!! My music director from this summer is music directing the tour of Spring Awakening!!! She was on stage and everything!! So cool!
Ok, I just got overly excited. Glad you liked the show! I'll let her know ;)
Posted by: Brittany | October 24, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Everything I know about Spring Awakening I learned from (the new) 90210. And even they made it sound pretty good.
Posted by: TasterSpoon | October 24, 2008 at 01:00 AM
i have heard nothing but great reviews about this show and hopefully will get to see it next month when it comes to LA, glad you liked it!
Posted by: katelin | October 24, 2008 at 01:05 AM
Never even heard of it... but definitely sounds like it's worth checking out. :) Nothing really comes all the way out here, but we need to make a trip back East sometime soon. Maybe, just maybe???
Posted by: m | October 25, 2008 at 01:56 AM
This is the musical that Duncan Sheik worked on, right? I am so glad to hear it was amazing because I adore Duncan.
Posted by: Operation Pink Herring | October 25, 2008 at 05:07 AM
Unfortunately my experience with this is on 90210 when they sang the same damn song about four times and only for about 30 sec.
Posted by: Becky | October 30, 2008 at 01:09 AM
For those who haven't yet got acquainted with Spring Awakening, this link - http://file.sh/Spring+Awakening+torrent.html
Posted by: tora | April 22, 2009 at 03:11 PM