Spring Awakening 11.19.06 - 7pm

So, I had seen it once off-Broadway and loved it and expected nothing less, and I certainly got more. The set is awesome - it looks very, very good. I noticed the second act had been changed a lot from the off-Broadway run, and it was a bit harder to realize that Wendla had had an abortion - and I thought that putting "Whispering" in the midst of all that was taking place, made it a lot more dramatic, but I talked to Dunken Sheik afterwards and he said they're going to add another scene in making the abortion, etc. clearer.

Stephen Spinella and Christine Esterbrook are far superior to the two adults who were at the Atlantic, in my opinion. Everyone that transfered was great, and sounded phenomenal.

I hated the hand mikes the first time off-Broadway, but now I was used to them so they didn't bother me at all.

The show needs a tiny bit of tweaking, but it's fantastic nonetheless. If it took home Best Musical in June, I'd be ecstatic.

The most amazing part of the night was during the bows. They bowed once, went off, came back on and bowed again, and then went back off, and the entire audience [orchestra and mezz] kept standing and clapping for what seemed like an eternity. The conductor had to call backstage TWICE to get the cast to come back out to bow for a third time. They all came back, buttoning their costumes back up, and then when they signaled to applaud the orchestra, the orchestra got up and bowed with them too and that last a minute or two, and they just stood onstage with their arms around each other in awe of audience, while we were in awe of them.

How often does that happen at the theatre?

I am so syked to see it in December...I have only heard good things about it.

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I guess I should put a spoiler warning here:

SPOILER WARNING.

There. Anyway, I saw the show on Friday night, and I thought it WAS pretty clear that Wendla died from complications from an abortion.I didn't see the Off-Broadway producton, but, I mean, how much clearer could it be? I thought it was appropriately subtle, and the audience is smart enough to pick up on it.

Anyway, love the score. But overall, while I think it's a good show, it didn't meet my expectations. It had the potential to be great - but it isn't.

Still want to see it again, though, after it opens. The audience was also very enthusiastic on Friday.

I saw the show 11/19 at 7pm as well and have to echo all of the positive sentiments. It's definitely possible to analyze the show and find its flaws, but in the end it's smart, edgy, and exciting. The music is just awesome and addictive. I couldn't get the strains of "Mama Who Bore Me" out of my head as soon as they were first uttered.

I'll definitely be going back again. I think any young person can relate to the show and its message...and any informed adult. Just wonderful.

Between "Grey Gardens" and "Spring Awakening" with a dash of "Mary Poppins," I'm in musical theatre heaven.

And...that ovation was crrrazy. I've never seen anything like that. I thought it was terribly awkward that the cast took so long to come back out, but I guess they're still learning how to respond to audience reaction. Most audience members seemed to love the show.

If you are under 25 and think RENT and Q are great theater then this show is for you. No doubt its audience, and prob flamer Isherwood or Holden [who has a major boner for Sheik] from the Times, will say this is a better show than GREY GARDENS.

Those with saner minds will see SPRING as a vulgar and annoying show.

Let it run; at least it means people are employed.

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fflag,

Here is the definiton of vulgar from the Merriam Webster Dictionary. Now which is it that you think Spring Awakening fits under? If you picked #5 I hope you don't have cable or watch TV after 10PM.

Main Entry: vul·gar
Pronunciation: 'v&l-g&r
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin vulgaris of the mob, vulgar, from volgus, vulgus mob, common people
1 a : generally used, applied, or accepted b : understood in or having the ordinary sense
2 : VERNACULAR
3 a : of or relating to the common people : PLEBEIAN b : generally current : PUBLIC c : of the usual, typical, or ordinary kind
4 a : lacking in cultivation, perception, or taste : COARSE b : morally crude, undeveloped, or unregenerate : GROSS c : ostentatious or excessive in expenditure or display : PRETENTIOUS
5 a : offensive in language : EARTHY b : lewdly or profanely indecent
synonym see COMMON, COARSE
- vul·gar·ly adverb

Updated On: 11/20/06 at 09:36 AM

not really, fflagg. I actually despise all things "Rent", "Q" is just fluff for me, and I'm more of an R&H fan. I was actually very wary of whether I would like the show or not.

However, it's really energetic, different, the music is beautiful, the acting is fantastic, the voices are spectacular, and the source material is VERY strong. It's not vulgar, rather, quite tasteful, and i think it's going to do a world of good for youth audiences.

Saw it too and was totally entertained...
Age 39!
I found it innovative and refreshing. The cast is wildly talented.

I don't think age has anything to do with whether or not you'll like this. In my opinion, it has to do with how open one is to something new.

One other thing, I think the transition between "Those You've Known" and "Purple Summer" needs to be made smoother. It felt like those two songs weren't connected at all.

I'm sorry that people here can't handle slight criticism of a show that is nearly [in their eyes, and mine] perfect, but you can't have a real discussion board if you're only discussing the positives of everything, and I'm not bashing the show in any way - I loved it and will go back several times, there were just some things that need a little bit of work.

I think the whole point of Spring Awakening is that we shouldn't see some of the subject material discussed in the show as "vulgar" or obscene. Just my two cents and one of the things I got out of the show...which I loved btw.

I was there (11/19 7pm) too and I liked the music (will def buy the CD) but I thought the venue is too large for this intimate show. My friend who saw the show at Atlantic twice (preview and towards the end) said you feel like you are in a live concert gig when he saw it at Atlantic. Not at Eugene O'Neil. I wish it was transferred to a smaller venue.

Also, what's up with the second to the last number at the cemetery? I wouldn't say they need to follow the original script, but the number didn't do anything for me.

For those who saw the show at Atlantic, did they have the square swing thingy at the end of Act 1 where Wendla makes out with the boy? Do they use it so that people in Orchestra can see what's going on?

...I think it exists for more than just sight lines. The swaying is a manifested representation of what the two of them are feeling.

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Is there a rush for this show? Or just cheap seats that are available at the box office on the day of the show?