Spring Awakening Question (Spoiler)

I'm seeing the show for the first time next weekend... Thank you (not!) for putting that spoiler in your thread title.

It's not gory or anything, but, if you don't know what to expect, it can be extremely suspenseful. There's a very depressing monologue, and then he puts the gun in his mouth. Blackout, no gunshot, and we cut to his funeral.

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Thanks for all your replies. Would it be better to see it onstage first or the orchestra?

Dude, if the guy is depressed take him to see Legally Blonde, Xanadu or [title of show].

Spring Awakening does have a good message of embracing your life, but we trudge through so many bad things (many of which do not get closure in the show) on the way that I can see it being completely depressing for someone like your friend. The best known song from the show, after all, is called "Totally @#&@ed" and is about how life screws you over.

honestly, i saw Spring Awakening and it REALLY depressed me. the "good points" in the show aren't good enough to justify the depressive bits...I wouldn't see it. ESPECIALLY with a depressed friend.

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but should you see one of those "crazy depressive" shows with an already depressed friend? probably not.

i agree, though. shows like Sweeney (which is depressing) is FANTASTIC. It just needs to be done right.

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Not I don't think you should at all, you're right. you were just saying it really depressed you too much and i was assuming you're not suffering from heavy depression at the moment.

You might want to just try talking to your friend about it. I suffer from depression and Spring Awakening didn't push me over the edge. On the contrary it's actually very therapeutic. And even though there is a suicide there's also a scene offering redemption and the show ends on a high note with "The Song of Purple Summer" having you leave the theatre feeling better about the world knowing that the kinds of events that take place in the play are happening less and less often these days due to there being a more open communication between parents, their children and friends who are willing to confide to those closest to them that they do suffer from depression instead of having to keep it all bottled up inside not having the options back then that are available to us today.

I saw the show for the 1st time last month and although I enjoyed it I did feel depressed at the end. My brother and I quietly left the theater. This is coming from someone who does not suffer from depression. Yes, I understood the last song offers hope but in my experience those who suffer from depression have a hard time seeing the silver lining in life. So even though hope is offered at the end it still could be lost on your friend.

I wouldn't want to expose my friend to something like SA if I felt it would quench their current struggle for happiness. It would not be worth it to me.

However, if you friend insists they want to see it then you go with your conscience.

Updated On: 9/18/08 at 03:12 PM

I don't see how someone who has seen the show many times could not understand people thinking it is depressing? It's pretty clearly a downer of a show with a silly tacked on song that means pretty much nothing except HEY DON'T LEAVE BUMMED.

Even the upbeat numbers are depressing. They're about being screwed over and how trapped they are in their lives. Yes, Melchior makes it out alive but Wendla and Moritz don't.

Updated On: 5/1/09 at 06:04 PM

I decided that I will see the show first and evaluate if I should bring my friend to see it.

I usually watch shows on my own and just recently found someone as a constant companion...and so far we have seen 3 shows together.

Thanks for the input.