SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

#1

SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 5/31/08 at 5:52pm

i have noticed the number of times i have seen Spring Awakening, that in act 1 Moritz Stiefel's hair is limp and rather messy. But then when he comes out to sing "I Dont Do Saddness" in act 2 his hair is all gelled up, it's like this every time. i know there's got to be some kind of metaphorical explanation but i just cant find it.

Updated On: 5/31/08 at 05:52 PM

#2

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 5/31/08 at 6:07pm

Heh. When I saw the show I just figured that the gel had failed duirng the first act so he put more on duirng intermission.

#3

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 5/31/08 at 6:12pm

yeah!! I noticed that too, we assumed that Bashoff got there late or something

I think, and this is just a guess, maybe the insane-ness of his hair is symbolic of the insane-ness of his emotions, and the more redonk his hair is the more intense and horrible his depression and frustration has gotten.
Like I said, Idk if thats actually the case, but it does make sense.

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"I told you, NO Rodgers and Hammerstein!"- Bart Simpson

#4

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 5/31/08 at 6:26pm

Hahahah.

I'm really not being rude... this thread actually did make me laugh.

My dears, It's just hair.

SPRING AWAKENING isn't that poetic and deep and metaphoric (seriously. it isn't)

#5

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 5/31/08 at 6:27pm

Note how his hair was all flaccid and limp prior to 'Touch Me'. Note how it's all stiff and - dare I say - erect afterwards. Perhaps Moritz's hair is indicative of his own awakening, eh?

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Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

#6

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 5/31/08 at 6:30pm

Hop off, I know that it's just hair. Which is why I didn't give it another thought. But if it's something that they do every night then there has to be some reason...which is ridiculous.

#7

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 5/31/08 at 6:35pm

"hop off" ?

It's hair. Just because they do it every night doesn't always mean there's a reason

#8

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 5/31/08 at 6:40pm

That's funny. When I saw it I thought Gallagher was in a hurry. Now I'm interested. I'd like to know now the reason for that,too

#9

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 5/31/08 at 6:46pm

If they do it every show with every actor then clearly there is a reason...not necessarily some weird philosophic one, but someone felt that it would help make a point.

Whatever. I really don't even care that much.

#10

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 5/31/08 at 9:08pm

I read or saw in an interview a while back that John Gallagher had to style his own hair for the first act, then at intermission the "hair guy" would do it.

#11

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 5/31/08 at 9:30pm

It's supposed to be symbolic. Yes, it's just hair, but to me it is sort of a play off of the phrase "makes your hair stand on end." I think it's a neat little detail.

#12

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 5/31/08 at 10:36pm

Moritz's hair is always a mess or "flaccid" in the first act and fixed and straight up in the second. Regardless if was john or blake. i guess it has something to do with him perparing to kill himself. in the line before he does he says i"m ready now".

#13

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 5/31/08 at 10:48pm

Of course it MEANS something. Very little is done in theater just "because". It's like saying that the fact that Moritz's socks falls down, when no one else's do, doesnt' mean anything.

It's done to highlight his feelings of being out of control, at being at his wits end.

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If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

#14

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 6/1/08 at 12:41am

Speaking of which, what does the sock thing mean? I've always noticed it, and wondered about it, but never wanted to ask. However, since it's been brought up, I'm very curious to know the answer.

#15

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 6/1/08 at 12:46am

It just shows how different and less organized he is than the other boys, imo.

#16

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 6/1/08 at 8:42am

When I saw it, it looked the same in both acts. Or maybe I just wasn't paying attention well enough.

I remember the first time I saw it, it looked a bit messed up. Some of his hair was sticking straight up while sections of it were not gelled up.

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"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

#17

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 6/1/08 at 10:06am

SPRING AWAKENING isn't that poetic and deep and metaphoric (seriously. it isn't)

It really is. There are new things that I discover about the show every day. This show is MADE of metaphors and symbolism.

#18

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 6/1/08 at 1:24pm

THANKS FOR THIS!! im gonna see it in a week on the 7th and im totally looking forward to spotting more symbolism. and if i stagedoor i my be even tempted to ask Bashoff this question 0.0

#19

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 6/1/08 at 1:41pm

Oh man I didnt' notice Moritz' socks falling down til like the 4th or 5th time I saw it, and I assumed it was an accident, especially because when he goes backstage and returns the socks are back in place. I remember when I saw it right after he won the Tony, and I thought "man this guy just won the acting Tony and the wardrobe people can't even make sure his socks are on right?" But then after I saw it a few more times and his socks fell down at the same places in the same way, I realized it wasn't an accident.

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#20

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 6/1/08 at 1:54pm

... actually, I could have just gone stir-crazy from being alone in this apartment all weekend, but how would wardrobe go about making sure his socks fall down at the same point every night? Making him wear ill-fitting socks that won't stay up is one thing. Making the socks fall on command... well! Or am I just getting too excited, and his socks fall down whenever they feel like falling down, and he just pulls them up at the same time every show?

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Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

#21

re: SPRING AWAKENING QUESTION

Posted: 6/1/08 at 2:50pm

I never noticed the sock thing. I'll be sure to look out for that next time I see it.

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"I told you, NO Rodgers and Hammerstein!"- Bart Simpson