Philadelphia revival of SPRING AWAKENING set in a 50’s diner because shut up. — Page 3

SPOILER ALERT

Just curious, does anyone know if it's specified by the creators that Moritz's gun doesn't actually fire?

I've seen several regional productions, now, and I've been waiting for some enterprising director to have the gun actually go off, but in all of the productions, it's been done along the lines of the original Broadway production. He either puts the gun in his mouth, or holds it up to his head, then a blackout with no gunshot.

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I saw the show the other night. The 50's diner actually worked and made it very different from other productions.

my only complaint was Wendla and Melchoir had no chemistry! They had more chemistry with their other partners in MY JUNK (if you see the show you'll know what I mean)

But the ensemble rocked, the adults were spot on, and the Hanschen/Ernst stole the show. I agree so worth the $20.
The Diva

How do they justify that the show is set in the 19th century Germany and the music is on the style of the 20th century, and yet it designed for the 50's?

The 50's had nothing to do with this musical (neither in the physical look nor in the style of the score). The "special" part of Spring Awakening was how they could mirror teen angst and issues from two centuries - why don't we just throw props from the 80's in there and have hippies in the chorus dancing a waltz? Some people think they can fart random nonsensical concepts and make them work.

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I think a 1950's setting could work for Spring Awakening. There is supposed to be a justaposition between the buttoned-up, repressived world of the 1890's with the free-spirited, wild rock music of today. The 1950's while not as repressed as the 1890's was still a similar time in history. (think of the movie Pleasantville) So while there are some problems, such as the fact that rock music already existed in the 50's, it certainly still could work.

What are the 3rd and 4th eras being added by setting it in the 50s? The 1890's are out of the equation, so it is still just two eras: the 50's and the present day.

Good point. But I guess I'm assuming that if they change the setting to the 1950's United States, that they would alter any lines that clearly don't fit (like Moritz saying he's fleeing to America).

Good point. But I guess I'm assuming that if they change the setting to the 1950's United States, that they would alter any lines that clearly don't fit (like Moritz saying he's fleeing to America).

No, they wouldn't. When you license a show, you CANNOT modify, add, or remove any dialogue or music. You don't re-write a show so that it fits your creative design or staging.

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Updated On: 7/14/12 at 06:17 PM

Thank you so much PattiLvr for posting an actual review to the show! I saw it today to a completely sold out house. First of all, the 50's diner concept made sense. They had a background of the period before you went into the space which was awesome. The ensemble rocked, the choreography was sexy, and it was cool to see the whole audience sway back and forth during Song of Purple Summer.

However, I couldn't agree with you more, the two leads had no chemistry at all! It looked so forced. Wendla was quiet throughout the whole show, I don't know if it was her mic down or if the actress couldn't project. Also the actor playing Moritz screeched, whined and danced like he was at a night club the whole time. So not the character of the true Moritz at all. I wish this actor gave him a real arc, the people arond me complained he was hurting their ears.

But seriously the band was so rocking and I could not get over how good the ensemble sounded. Highlights were definitely Bitch of Living, Totally F*CKed, and My Junk (Haha yea the couples are great in that one, the teacher and Georg are the best)I would totally go back and see it again.

Such a good Philly production and I am interested to see how this company puts their spin on other shows.

Can we talk about all of the shills that joined this week since I started the thread? NessaRose24, PattiLvr28, phillytheaterguy, and amsdiva2 I’m lookin at you.

Can we talk about all of the shills that joined this week since I started the thread? NessaRose24, PattiLvr28, phillytheaterguy, and amsdiva2 Im lookin at you.

Thank you! Obviously the director had recycled sets and costumes and forced a musical that has nothing to do with this style and try to look smart.

Shills can try but they are awful at giving any kind of valid argument.

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Sbflyman, of course the production's contract with MTI (or whoever licenses SA) would prohibit changing anything. I wonder though if this particular theater asked the copyright holders for permission to make changes so the 50's theme makes more sense?

People who saw the show, can you enlighten us as to how they managed to make the German references in the script and character names make sense?

Yes, they perform this, Grease and Bye,Bye Birdie all throughout the summer. No need to get new sets!

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Obviously there were some things that didn't make sense. For example the hayloft was a diner counter haha. But the maywine/word of your body scene played out really well and so did the Hanschen masturbation/Desdemona's photo was a 1950s dirty magazine. It was as if the director was trying to make it "the meeting place" for this small German community.

I totally get what everyone is saying why a 50s diner? seems like a crack pot idea. However, during the preshow when the actors were onstage either doing homework, passing notes to each other, sitting at the counter, and reading german novels you started to get the feel of the show. I think this would have been fine set in the 50s just not a diner. Sexual oppression was big in the 50s too right?

I just noticed that not everyone has seen in it in this thread and I wanted to give an actual review of how I felt about the show. Like I said everyone was amazing except for Wendla and Moritz.