Don’t let the innocent clothing fool you. The musical
Spring Awakening, based on the play
by Franke Wedekind, takes a quiet town in the 1890’s and turns it upside down
with passion, angst, and sexual tension. Not to mention the music is an
incredible mix of classic Eastern European strings and contemporary percussion.
Think Fiddler On the Roof meets Rent. The story is centered around the
suppressed sexuality of adolescents in the village, the most prominent being
Melchoir (played by Christopher Wood) and Wendla (played by Elizabeth Judd).
Disturbing yet effective lyrics are always present throughout the
show.An
especially moving song was “Totally F*****” where Melchoir is accused of
morally corrupting his friend Moritz.
This was the best song of the whole show, as it captivates the anger and
frustration of being tied down by the expectations of society. This added to
the overall the tone of the song; adolescents crying out to be understood while
the adults refuse to listen.
The fact that members of the audience were able to
sit directly on either side of the stage with members of the ensemble were
scattered throughout added an interesting twist to an otherwise
non-distinguished background, although the bright pink rain boots that one
audience member was wearing and the bouncing around and head-bobbing of the man
next to her proved to be distracting, especially during the most intimate scene
of Melchoir and Wendla.
Melchoir stands out as the suave, radical male that strives to break
out of his reserved environment. Although Wood’s voice is slightly
disappointing, he has remarkable acting skills to make up for that. Melchoir’s
character is constantly angry with himself and the world around him, which
could also contribute to his more rough-sounding voice rather than the
conventional sweet tunes of other musicals.
Wendla is an innocent girl who falls for Melchoir and his poetic
words. Elizabeth Judd captures the
innocence of Wendla, and although small, her voice is that of someone twice her
size. Wendla’s naivety enhances her sheltered society.
Both Wood and Judd
beautifully capture Melchoir and Wendla as they lose their virginity during the
song “I Believe.” The irony is that the lyrics talk about how there is love in
heaven and all will be forgiven, implying that something will happen to them as
a result of their “wrongdoing.
Melchoir and Wendla may be main characters throughout the play, but
they are not always the center of attention.
Spring Awakening is about exposing the innermost secrets of the
village, such as abuse, suicide, homosexuality, and death through powerful
lyrics.
Moritz, Melchoir’s best friend, played by Cody
Getzug, particularly stands not only because of his amazing vocal range, but
also because his character is forced to deal with the feelings of
disappointment he fails to make the mark to go up a level in class and he
contemplates suicide
Hanschen and Ernst, fellow classmates, do a rendition
of “The Words of Your Body” that was also sung by Melchoir and Wendla. Their
kissing scene, although initially uncomfortable, greatly adds depth and
diversity to the musical.
Melchoir and Wendla’s relationship is so fast and
passionate that it leaves one wishing it lasted longer. After their first time,
the resulting dramatic and shocking consequences are rushed into the play, but
it in part it helps to identify with Melchoir’s character. “The Song of Purple
Summer” brings everything together at the end. The song’s lyrics are a symbol
of the metamorphosis from children to adults as the adolescents break though
the fog of naivety. “But still it stays/The butterfly sings/ And opens purple summer/ With
a flutter of its wings.”
Such young talentand emotionally raw words in Spring Awakening leave a lasting impression. It brings forth the
same problems and tensions between the sexes that are seen today with a perfect
balance of humor and solemnity. The ingenious, provocative theme of lust and lovegive a bite to
the sweet, pure nature associated with Spring.
