Spring Awakenings - Am I Missing Something?

[jrseygirl]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 9:27pm

I went to see Spring Awakenings with a girlfriend back in February and we both absolutely HATED it. I thought it was the most bizarre show I have ever seen. Knowing she felt the same way, I knew I was not alone. We both cannot get over all of the kudos and awards this show is getting. Can someone please explain to me what I am missing???

[pab]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 9:29pm

It had its moments but it also escapes me as to what people see in that show. To each his own.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 9:31pm

Maybe you missed something about the show, but you added an "s" to its title.

I personally love it, but I think it's a show that you either love or you hate. I haven't heard very many, "I kind of liked it, but not that much" people.

[singtopher]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 9:33pm

For starters, there was only one "Awakening"

I personally have not seen the show, but from what I hear it is not a universally liked show. So I'm sure you are not alone. I can say personally I had to let the music grow on me. There are certain songs that I love, and others that I just can't listen to.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 9:33pm

Yeah I'm not a fan but I usually like at least one song in every show. I for one really enjoy "I Believe" but that's about it. And Jonathan Groff's face. And I do believe John Gallager Jr deserved the Tony. But, it's a show I saw twice (once because I was curious, twice because I have a friend involved in the production and she absolutley wanted me to) and both times I just thought "Man I am never coming back" and I don't at all understand the appeal.


But. It has a cool CD cover.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 9:37pm

It's what's called a "snob hit": a play that's not necessarily good but people seem to think they're *supposed* to like because, well, after all, everybody else does.

[gymman]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 9:44pm

ugh..."Spring Awakening"

[jaystarr]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 9:46pm

No - you did not miss anything, its just we are not TONY VOTERS!! and

Spring Awakening is actually a good show compared to some other new musical that opened this year , probably it deserved to win the TONYS for New Musical but all the awards it got last Sunday. For me- There's so much going on at the end of ACT 2- suicide, abortion, becoming an atheist and I said on the other thread (which is gone now-dont know why? ) after the show, I felt NUMBED already. I dont care as to what happened to Wendla ( Lea Michelle) . The show spoon fed the message the the audience.. Its like saying .. This is what will happen if you dont have any tolerance...there's nothing left to reflect or think. It won the TONYS bec. of the buzz, the MTV publicity and the hype that its the HIP show.But that's ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE- this show never really pushed new envelop aside to the fact its "innovative" in using rock music to convey teenager's emotion in the 19th century Germany. THe first time I saw the show last December- I thought it was RENT REVIVAL. Unfortunatley- I am not a Tony Voter bec. definitely I would have voted for Grey Gardens, but I am over that now- the TONYS is a popularity contest and one more thing- you are not alone with your thoughts-

I wish for the BEST for Spring Awakening, its my second favorite new musical this year. As I said , I would rather see it win the Best Musical rather than going to Mary Poppins-j*




Updated On: 6/12/07 at 09:46 PM

[scott68]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 11:50pm

You're missing the seven thousand other threads that have asked the same question. Do we really, really need another one?

[jg4892]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 11:53pm

Stick, meet dead horse.

[DirtyRottenMemberName]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 11:56pm

when i saw springs awakenings back around christmas time, i just found it awkward and pointless. hype, hype, hype

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:02am

You didn't miss anything, just because it won a Tony, it doesn't mean you have to like it.
We all have different taste, I personally loved it, but I hated many Broadway hits and Tony winners in the past.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:02am

I miss the other thread too Jaystarr. It was nice to debate the relative merits of another show for five seconds rather than try to wade through the overflow of the same ten people talking about how much they dislike Spring Awakening. I had a good point to make about Grey Gardens, maybe I'll make another thread about it.

But for the record, there is much more to Spring Awakening than the hype. There are those of us who like it and those of us who don't. Get the f*** over it.

-still hasn't figured out how RENT and Spring Awakening are remotely similiar.

[TVBoy]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:04am

"It's what's called a "snob hit": a play that's not necessarily good but people seem to think they're *supposed* to like because, well, after all, everybody else does."

What a completely thoughtless comment to make and assume.

I knew nothing about the alleged hype surrounding the show before I saw it. I read a synopsis of all the shows and "Spring Awakening" was one of the shows I chose to see. I enjoyed it and guess what? I came to that conclusion on my own.

[stageagent13]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:07am

thank you tvboy. i do not apprectiate people calling it a snob hit when i actually really enjoyed it.

[i.heart.link]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:12am

I agree. I haven't seen the show but i LOVE it! After Spring Awakening had that whole discussion thing wtih Degrassi, i wanted to know more about the show, i bought the cd and fell in love with it. So its annoying now that everyone else hates it.

But i see your point, its not for everyone.

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:16am

SA is one of those examples of, to me, the original play being better than the adaptation. Everything that is "daring" in the show is to be found in the play.

The score often times sledgehammers the more complicated and subtle emotional drama. Making it dramatically less effective, to me.

Also, the dialogue often sounds like a stilted german translation.

I did like the use of space and movement. The cast has an energy that is palpable..

But I think you would get a better idea of what Wedekind was aiming at without the score.

[DirtyRottenMemberName]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:17am

springs awakenings- made by snobs, for snobs.

[DirtyRottenMemberName]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:20am

springs awakenings- made by snobs, for snobs.

[sidjones09]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 1:24am

"SA is one of those examples of, to me, the original play being better than the adaptation. Everything that is "daring" in the show is to be found in the play."

I have to disagree BFB. After seeing the musical twice, I decided to read Wedekind's original play and I was shocked to find that I thought Sater's adaptation was better in some ways. And this is coming from someone who thought the Book was one of the weaker parts of the musical. Besides the rape, which I wish they would have left in as it was done at Atlantic, Sater's ending is actually an improvement on Wedekind's craziness with Moritz's headless ghost and some mysterious Masked Man. The closure in Wedekind's play is just BAD in my opinion. At least in the musical there is some sense of resolution. I didn't find much of a resolution in the play.

On another note to some on this board:

I realize that many people dislike the show. As someone who has a very diverse variety of tastes in theatre, it is one of the most memorable pieces of theatre I have seen in some time for good reasons. You don't need to be a SNOB to like 'Spring Awakening', just like you don't need to be an ASS if you hate it.

[i.heart.link]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 1:32am

"You don't need to be a SNOB to like 'Spring Awakening', just like you don't need to be an ASS if you hate it."

well said!

[amalou]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 1:49am

I do think it's a love or hate thing. I don't see it lasting for years and years, though. It seems like it's mostly geared toward emo teens.

[WordedGrace]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 1:50am

People whether you like it or not..it's going to be around for awhile. Whether on Broadway, Tour, or a butchered version at a local high school near you. It's amazing how many we hate SA threads have popped up AFTER the Tonys. In the immortal of words of Glinda to Elphaba.."Let it go."

[amalou]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 1:54am

Let it go? The Tonys were only two days ago. If we wanna discuss it, I think we can.

[WordedGrace]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 1:58am

"Let it go? The Tonys were only two days ago. If we wanna discuss it, I think we can."


Here's my response to that... I don't get caught up in message board fights. You voice your opinion, I'll voice mine. Simple as that, everyone is free to respond threads as they please. =)

Updated On: 6/13/07 at 01:58 AM