Spring Awakening Over Rated? — Page 2

The creators certainly are. All of thier "musicals rock" comments got quite annoying after awhile; the salt in the wound of a slew of undeserved awards.

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Thanks for the explanation, munk. It doesn't make me see it in a different light (not to say that you were trying to convince anybody), but I do appreciate you getting the point out. For the record, I never marked you as a SA champion. I recognize that most of your posts are fairly balanced, especially in regards to the Tony's.

Heh, sorry munk. I tend towards the melodramatic late at night. I think it's time for bed.

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I am so glad that I am not the only person in the world who thinks that SA does not have great music! I have complete and total respect for the show--it's reaching to different places in musical theater, but I can't get excited about the score. And, call me old-fashioned, but I believe that the music should be an extention of the story and not completely detached.

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munkustrap178, I see what you mean, but that's not the way that every song is presented (which was my biggest pet peeve and a fault of the director). While "I Don;t Do Sadness/Blue Wind" is presented this way, "The Word of You're Body (Reprise)" is not. There's very little cohesiveness in terms of direction.

SO - how many understand that the theatre world is looking for ways to draw younger audiences?

How many recognize that the Tony Awards - the one national prime-time exposure it gets - is all about that promotion?

Are there STILL questions as to why SPRING AWAKENING was the annointed one this season?

It seems no one can ever be happy for a show.

Blue - which explains the HUGE success of WICKED - you know, the one where the young girls see their angst played out to music?

And AVENUE Q, which attempts to validate the 20-30-something navelgazers.

And SPAMELOT, which actually managed to get young MEN into a theatre.

It may not be what gets YOU into a theatre, but do you honestly think that ANYONE posting here represents anything akin to the AVERAGE theatre-goer?

Yes, but...

Wicked: big, colorful and very Broadway-ish

Avenue Q: it's lewd, funny as hell and a puppet show

Spamelot: drew in huge amounts of Monty Python fans and it's quirky and funny and also very Broadway-ish

Spring Awakening is really none of these things, so I don't see very much Broadway commercial appeal.

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Yes..I think Doug might get his chance for Best Book next year with The Little Mermaid being that he didn't get it this year...

I still don't understand why the score is considered better than Grey Gardens', which I thought musically was fantastic and lyrically was far better than that of Spring Awakening. The music is catchy for Spring Awakening, but so many of the lyrics are absolutely heinous; just melodramatic phrases that don't make any sense. I just can't fathom how you can listen to songs like "Around the World" and "Another Winter in a Summer Town" and then "The Word of Your Body" and "My Junk" and not be in favor of Grey Gardens.

BLUE- "Spring Awakening is really none of these things, so I don't see very much Broadway commercial appeal."

I think it all comes down to audiences. For those seeking a concrete answer as to why it's "good," I can't give one, but I can come up with this: both times I have seen this show, the cast has had to come out THREE TIMES! And it really felt like the audience didn't want to stop applauding. The energy of the cast, the message of never letting go of those you love, the odd sense of optimism in a dark time (kind of sounds like RENT, eh? LOL).

So, BLUE, is there a giant flying machine??? No. Are there a lot of dick jokes??? No. Did Eric Idle write the music??? No. By all accounts, is it/or should it be "mainstream" or "commercial"? No.

BUT...

It is.

They have been able to take an 1891 piece by german playwright Frank Wedekind and make it meaningful, inspiring and impactful to masses of people. As much as people on this thread (and MANY others since last night) hate to admit it, it has made a huge impact. And for anyone who has read the original play, they know how big of a feat it really is to make this play COMMERCIAL...hell, they should get a Tony for that! LOL. Just kidding...

My favorite comment about SPRING was made by a FORTY year old woman sitting next to me the first time I saw the show with my brother. After it ended (or maybe during intermission), she turned to her friend and said, "I just don't think I can be friends with anyone who doesn't like this show."

NEEDLESS TO SAY, she wouldn't make many friends on here. LOL.

But I will be her friend. I don't think it's overrated. I think it has a beautiful and fun score, I think it has great performances (especially by Gallagher and Groff), I think it has a universal message that spans all (or most) ages and I know some people hate this, but for some of us, there is just an unexplainable feeling watching it.

Watching CURTAINS at the Tonys...I knew what feelings I felt...a sense that I was watching something really trite, followed by some nausea and a trip to the bathroom. Bleh.

It's all subjective. I thought I'd share my perspective.

Just seems like an emo version of RENT with bleak costumes to me. I don't understand how it beat Mary Poppins and Legally Blonde for choreography. If you want innovation, what about Grey Gardens?
I fail to see how its so cutting edge...
That said, its bringing young folks into the theater, so good for it! And hopefully some people who see Spring Awakening as their first show will go on to discover a broader range of theater?

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