Gabrielle

1. 4
   Jan
   

   Spring Awakening Review

   Mmkay, so recently I went to the Buelle Theatre and i saw Spring Awakening twice while the tour was here in Denver. I hadn’t really looked into the show until I got an advertisement from the Denver Center since i saw Rent. I started looking into Spring Awakening and read about the challanging and day to day teen issues it faces, such as, sex, masturbation, suicide, abuse, abortion, bad grades, depression. Basically teen angst!

   I started listening to the music from spring awakening and found it to be amazing. There are catchy upbeat rock songs like “The B**** of Living, My junk, and Totally F*****” Touching/Haunting songs like, “Dont Do sadness”, The Dark I Know Well”, and “Those You’ve Known” Sensual songs, such as,”Touch me” “The Word of Your Body” and “The Guilty Ones. And pretty songs “The song of Purple Summer” “Blue Wind” and “I believe”. When it comes to music I’d say that this show had a phenomenal score. Great to keep teenagers engaged, and even adults will appreciate the beauty and heart in these songs.

   Now this leads me into the choreography in this musical. The choreography was so unique! It was pretty simple and mostly the same dance through out the musical. In some songs theyd change the order of the dance moves, or the speed. But i really enjoyed and thought it was interesting how they did the same dance throughtout. it was sort of an odd interpretive dance, And i loveeeed the choreography Melchior did in “The Mirror-Blue Night” soooo beautiful and unigue. The Choreography during The “B**** of Living” was also incredible, it didnt follow the dance moves throughout the musical, but it was really fun and energetic to watch. Just watching it made youre heart beat faster!

   Now onto the acting! The acting in this show was pretty good! I thought that the actors generally could have gone a bit deeper with their characters though! Moritz character was probably my favorite! Taylor Trensch did a great job of embracing the awkwardness, and confusion Moritz is going through, and then the depression. As far as leads go, I thought Wendla could have portrayed more innocence. I also, found it interesting how all adult parts were played by the same two adults, not bad, just different! But all in all, it was a cast of wonderful actors providing easy to love characters:)

   As far as lighting and set design goes, it was spectacular! The set is simple, but still draws your attention with all of its randomness on the brick wall in the background. Then there are seats on the left and right on the stage and for just 25$ you can sit on the stage with the actors the whole show. I didnt get to experience this, but im sure it was truely amazing! It was really unique how the actors were always on stage. Even if theyre not in the scene, they often sand and danced. and then to take it ever farther, The members of the ensemble were dressed in normal clothes and would just whip out a microphone and sing. It was truely a unique style i’d never seen done before. The lighting was amazing. sometimes youd feel like you were watching a concert, such as during “The B**** of Living” and other times it’d feel like it was nightime in the graveyard!

   Now, as far as the actual concept of the musical, and the script goes. It was a very deep show. It covers difficult issues in the teenage life. I wouldnt reccomend this show to anyone younger then fifteen. I was prepared for a inappropriate show and it still shocked me. There is some nudity, so be aware of that. But, the inappropriateness that this show carrys, is not offensive, its not meant to be gross. It honestly, shows life, it shows the life of teenagers and its actually sort of pretty how it portrays sex and such. I do believe they could have toned it down, but i see why Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater didnt and i respect that I loved how the show managedto be serious, but bring the perfect amount of comic relief. It also had just the right amount of tragedy, yet still made you feel hopeful at the end!

   All in all, a wonderful show and  unique experience. Duncan Sheik ands Steven Sater took a play written hundreds of years ago by Frank Wedekind, and showed us how, not much has changed for us teenagers! Even if you’re not a theatre person I’m pretty sure you’d enjoy this show. And if you do appreciate a good show, you will not be dissapointed. An amazing score, astonishishing script, specatacular actors, and touching story!