So, I FINALLY Saw "Spring Awakening"

Ok... I really dont know what to think yet. I think I am going to have to revisit. The score is excellent- just about brilliant- If I had to compare it to two others, I would choose "Rent" and "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" due to the "Rock/Pop" feel. However, I think both of those scores are better, simply because of the diversity.

A number of songs in "SA" sounded the same to me.

The cast ... well, they sing the heck out of it, although I wonder about the acoustics. Maybe its the theater, but I was on stage, Row A, and even when the actors were facing towards me, I had a hard time hearing them.

Phoebe Strole was on as Wendla. Beautiful voice, and man, is she gorgeous !!! (Was one of my highlights of sitting on stage !!)

Groff is incredible, as it John Gallagher, Jr (although I wonder if he wins the Tony award in a year with a stronger field. )

Lauren Pritchard sang the heck out of "Blue Wind" !! (man, I would love to hear Joss Stone sing that song !!)

Choreography?? Tony award???!! Dont understand that one, unless jumping off chairs, and copying Madonna's "Vogue" video gets you the award.

--- I just wonder... if the award was for "Best Rock Concert", the show wins hands down. Best Musical? - Personally, I think "GG" was better. Thats just my .02

So, is it such a great show, or a weak year for musicals?

Anyway, I HAD to buy the OBCR, and will be playing it non-stop !!! Will definitely see the show again as well.

You saw Phoebe. So jealous. I know people who are hauling ass to the theater to see her.

So, is it such a great show, or a weak year for musicals?

Neither. I don't think it's a great show, but it's not a weak year for musicals. I think that Grey Gardens deserved to win. Spring Awakening won because it was something other than the ordinary.

Spring Awakening also won because it's a show that is guarateed a longer run than Grey Gardens. While, Grey Gardens is a beautiful show with some amazing performances in it...Spring Awakening spans a larger and more diverse audience. Also, once Christine leaves Gardens the show is bound to close immediately, if not soon after. With a show like Spring Awakening you can put anyone in as a replacement and the show will remain the same. Might just be my opinion...but I definitely see why SA won the Tony. But I agree, Gardens should have won it.

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I think the fans of Grey Gardens think it's a good show, with or without Christine. That's a rather unfair assumption to make.

Glad you enjoyed the show, Testing!

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Four for you Paris, you go Paris!

Just had to say that.

Um, no CATS, I didn't say that at all. I am saying that what Spring Awakening does is for shock factor. It's there for the purpose of pushing buttons. It's not even close to the typical Broadway musical, and because of that, it won. Had Grey Gardens won, it would have been on merit, not because it does anything shocking. Grey Gardens is a great musical, but not the "controversial" (and I use that word loosely) mess of a show that Spring Awakening is.

mywonderwa11, I agree entirely. I've never compared RENT to Spring Awakening and I truly don't see why many do. They're on two separate levels for separate reasons.

As for the Christine matter, you all have to admit. It's true. Yes, it's sad, but it's very true. The show isn't selling as well as it should, but the reason most tourists go see the show is because "they heard the lead actress is really good".

Someone who has seen an understudy for Christine, we need you. I think a lot of people actually like GG with or without Christine. I wonder though, if GG did win best musical, would it last longer?

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<< I agree that Spring Awakening is edgy and different, but I wouldn't call it the "new RENT." As many have.

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I totally agree ! I dont think there is any way that you can compare this show to "Rent"- Yes, the score is excellent, but
"Rent", as least to me, is in another league as far as overall production.

I think CE has a lot to do with how good "GG" is, but even without her, I think its a better musical. If "GG" has any flaws, I think its the fact that the 1st Act drags a tad bit.

The second act.... phenomenal !!!

I too think Ebersole is a large part of what makes Grey Gardens work, but the material could certainly work with another actress in the role. I wouldn't have called it oustanding, per se, but it is a fascinating story, and I think a solid piece. I think Spring Awakening deserved Best Musical, but I don't know that I think it deserved it so much MORE than any of the other nominees might have, had they won. Yes, it probably won because it's fresh, edgy, and different, but I suppose we have to remember that pushing the envelope does not always good theater make. Yes, the team has been working on the show for eight years, but there are still many places in which it could use work.

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****Spoilers****

I saw Maureen in GG and I thought she was wonderful. I loved her. I agree...the score for GG does what songs should do in a musical...advance the plot. The book however could use some work, but so could the book for SA. There are several flaws I found in SA and in GG. I think Wendla is too strong of a character to die (much like Maria in West Side Story) and I think Moritz's reasons for suicide are stupid. We barely even ever see him with his father and we're supposed to believe that their relationship was THAT bad when we don't even get a strong insight into it? And why would people in the 1890s sing about "turning their stereo on" or "showering at gym class" when those things weren't invented yet? I did enjoy Spring Awakening, but I did have trouble believing it at times. While I find the modern music set to the 1890s clever, I don't think it works overall. Just my opinion...

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Updated On: 6/20/07 at 07:21 PM