Last weekend, I ventured down to Portland to see one my favorite Modern shows directed by a fellow HS Alum, John Oules, Founder and President of LIVE on STAGE.
Spring Awakening is a rock musical adaptation of the controversial 1892 German play of the same title by Frank Wedekind. It features music by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by Steven Sater. Set in late-19th century Germany, it concerns teenagers who are discovering the inner and outer tumult of sexuality. The original play was banned in Germany for some time due to its frank portrayal of abortion, homosexuality, rape, child abuse and suicide. In the musical, alternative rock is employed as part of the folk-infused rock score. Spring Awakening received eleven 2007 Tony Award nominations, winning eight, including Tonys for best musical, direction, book, score and featured actor. The show also won four Drama Desk Awards, while its London production won four Olivier Awards.
As I was watching the show, I was reminded of how today that seeing a show that takes risks is groundbreaking. Broadway tends to focus more on the familiar based on successful films. Spring Awakening is the exception. Just imagine, the show, Glee, wouldn't exist without this.
Some High Schools will tackle this while some would censor this. One incident happened concerning a 2006 High School Production of the 'Laramie Project' in Tigard, OR there was concern about the subject matter. Way back in 1986, People objected to Beaverton High School's production of "Cabaret" because of the Bi-sexual content, but it was the re-written version and that the sexual Identity was taken out for a High School audience. Everything else remained (Abortion, Violence, Jewish/Nazi symbols, Holocaust realism, etc.). The Show was of course a Hit. (The show starred future Broadway star, Brooks Ashmanskas as the Emcee, and he played it as someone with a Flamboyant style.) Fast forward to 2009, when a another High school in the Portland area did a Production of 'Cabaret" and put back the Bi-sexual content, but took out everything else! OUCH!
Censorship and oppression is what 'Spring Awakening' is about, and it is why it is so special.
Wendla (Beth Scheppke), an adolescent in late-nineteenth century Germany, laments that her mother (Jennifer Goldsmith) gave her “no way to handle things” and has not taught her the lessons she needs to learn (“Mama Who Bore Me”).
Moritz (Robert Head) describes a dream that has been keeping him up at night, and Melchior (Noah Fish) realizes that Moritz has been having erotic dreams which Moritz believes are signs of insanity. To comfort the panicked Moritz, Melchior, who has learned sexual information from books, tells Moritz that all of the boys at their age get the dreams. The burned-out boys tell about their own frustrating thoughts and desires. ("The Bitch of Living"). Moritz, who is not comfortable talking about the subject with Melchior, requests that he give him the information in the form of an essay, complete with illustrations.
Meanwhile, Hanschen (Brandon Wooley) masturbates as he looks at an erotic postcard, and the piano student Georg (Sean Powell) indulges in some lively fantasies about his well-endowed female piano teacher (Jennifer Goldsmith). Moritz has eagerly digested the essay that Melchior prepared for him, but complains that his new knowledge has only made his dreams even more vivid and torturous. Melchior tries to calm and comfort his friend, but Moritz runs off in frustration. All of the boys and girls express their desires for physical intimacy ("Touch Me").
Moritz is told he has failed his final examination, and his father(Blaine Palmer) reacts with disdain and contempt when Moritz tells him that he will not progress in school; rather than attempting to understand his son's pain, Moritz's father is only concerned with how the others in town will react when they see 'the man with the son who failed'. Moritz writes to Melchior’s mother (Jennifer Goldsmith), his only adult friend, for money to flee to America; she tenderly but firmly denies his request and promises to write his parents to discourage them from being too hard on him ("And Then There Were None"). Devastated by the refusal and feeling he has few choices left, Moritz begins to contemplate suicide. (I heard in the original Moritz in the Play version was Gay.)
Wendla (Topless) and Melchior (Bottomless) begin to make love in the hayloft ("I Believe").
Moritz, having been thrown out of his home, wanders the town at dusk, carrying a pistol ("Don't Do Sadness") Believing that he has nowhere to turn, Moritz shoots himself. The shot is silent.
The Schoolmaster (Blaine Palmer) searches through Moritz's belongings and find the essay on sex which Melchior wrote for him. They lay the blame of Moritz's death on Melchior, and although Melchior knows that he is not to blame, he knows there is nothing he can do to fight them, and he is expelled ("Totally Fucked"). The actor who plays Hanschen did Hand stands) Then he has his big scene with hiis shy and delicate classmate Ernst (Lucien Gratteri). Hanschen shares his pragmatic outlook on life with his classmate before seducing him ("The Word of Your Body (Reprise)"). They Kiss and the chemistry is sweet.
Wendla is pregnant and forced to get an underground Abortion and Melchior feels Lost.
The direction was awesome, the cast was Beautiful, the Choreography was inspired. the music was pouncing and story was Gut-wrenching. I was the most impressed with Jennifer Goldsmith as the Adult Female, as 4 characters (Wendia's Mom, Melchior's mom, piano teacher and Headmistress) she nailed each one.
Spring Awakening at Portland's World Trade Center continues through May 26th.
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