Spring Awakening Mics — Page 2

Exactly. Why do they conceal the mics at all?

And those dance movements during MIRROR-BLUE NIGHT, etc. are laughably bad. Gestös gone wrong.

But then, if the songs are all inner monologues, then shouldn't they be using them for all the songs? Do only the songs using the visible mikes connect to teens of today?

From the way it's been described, it sounds like this concept, which is interesting, doesn't work and is very inconsistent.

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They don't have to be handheld mics- there are also lots of other numbers where they use standing mics. I think the concept is good, and it's true that it's inconsistent, but they use it whenever possible, and sometimes it's just not with the choreography.

Well personally I'm glad they kept the concept and in my opinion not using hand held mics in 2 or 3 songs does not make the show fail miserably.

Again, it seems to me that the mic used is based on the staging- whether the actor will be needing both hands, or moving around, sitting, or standing still, or standing on a chair getting dressed. The song where actors are standing still, such as The Dark I know Well, And Then There Were None, and Don't Do Sadness- use a standing mic. Sitting down- girls in My Junk, Word of Your Body, All That's Known, Guilty Ones- hand held. When they are touching themselves needing 2 hands- the usual unseen mics. Get over it! This is not really a reason to dislike a show, most of those who don't like SA for other reasons are harping on this and "piling on." The unsung words are interaction/dialogue, the songs are inner thoughts. You don't need lights to tell you that. And besides, the TONY nominated lighting design is terrific.

So teka, we are just supposed to "get over it"? We can't look at the show critically and discuss what flaws it might have?

And no one said this was a reason to dislike the show.

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gym - if you are talking about me, I said it's one of the things wrong with the direction.

I happen to like the score and the performances. I think the direction is misguided but I don't dislike the show. And keep in mind, I am talking in depth, more or less, about the mic-concept situation. I'm very much exaggerating my complaints here and explaining in detail why I thought it seemed inconsistent.

When the concept works - it is fantastic. Maybe it is because he just understands how to execute the concept better than others or someone worked with him more, but Gallagher seems to consistently understand what he is trying to accomplish (or what Mayer is trying to accomplish) on that stage.

During his scene with Ilse you see a shy, reserved, disturbed boy. Then he sings (or rocks out, rather) DON'T DO SADNESS and you understand that inside that shy shell is a soul exploding.

For me, that's when the "concept" really clicked and I said, "Ah!"

TOTALLY F*CKED was another moment like that, if not a bit muddled. MAMA WHO BORE ME is almost there. DARK I KNOW WELL should have been one of those moments that really pulls you in to the characters' innermost thoughts.

Updated On: 5/18/07 at 03:00 PM

some lighting effects would def exaggerate the "inner thoughts" concept more, and that would be a good idea. i bet you almost everyone who sees this show dont know what the deal is with the mics. probably all of them actually.

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Justin D - who called it crap?