Spring Awakening Question (Spoiler)

[antonijan]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 3:02pm

Is it appropriate to bring a depressed person and witness the stage suicide? I haven't seen the show but am planning on seeing the tour with a depressed friend.

Please be serious. I don't know how violent the scene is or what the context is just based from hearing the music and reading some articles and board posts.

I have actually avoided the spoilers til now but I have to do some research.

Thanks.


Updated On: 9/27/08 at 03:02 PM

[Elke]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 3:05pm

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

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 3:08pm

Its a depressing scene (obviously as it should be) but as far as any violence goes he puts the gun in his mouth and theres a blackout and no gun shot so that might give you an idea.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 3:13pm

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.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 3:16pm

Are you trying to lift your friend's spirits??

Bringing him/her to SPRING AWAKENING won't help...

[antonijan]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 3:16pm

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

[winter_sky]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 3:24pm

Normally orchestra but I echo the sentiments that this is not really the best choice for someone who is currently depressed.

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 3:48pm

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.

[Fiyero13]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 4:35pm

Agree not the best musical to see or listen to when u're going thru depression, defintiely ITH or some other musical is better if u're going through that kind of stuff

[into_the_woods2]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 9:34pm

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.

[jake6970]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 9:35pm

This isn't a comment on how good the show is or not, but should depressive pieces really have to be justified or balanced out? Some of the best theatre is crazy depressive.

[into_the_woods2]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 9:39pm

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.

[winter_sky]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 9:44pm

I'm not depressed but SA brings me WAAY down. That's fine as a piece but why push someone over the edge like that when there is fun shows to see like Xanadu (for a little while longer) or Hairspray.

[jake6970]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 9:50pm

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.

[killertofu333]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 1:38am

Please don't take your friend to see Spring Awakening. The suicide scene's a downer plus "Those You've Known" may spark a downward spiral moment.

Like Winter_Sky said try to catch LB or Xanadu before it closes.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 2:42am

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.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 7:59am

I have a silly question but why would someone want to take a depressed friend to see a show that has a suicide in it? I'm not depressed(well not currently) and I don't want to see for the reason that it is a depressing show.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 3:12pm

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

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 3:39pm

The show is not depressing at all. I have never heard that opinion before, and I have seen it multiple times.

Yes, there is death, but there's hope, and the end is supposed to show a world at peace. The show has multiple up beat numbers with great energy that overshadow the "depressing"ness of the show.

I'd say take them, because at the end, Melchior decides life on Earth is better than committing suicide.
Updated On: 9/18/08 at 03:39 PM

[winter_sky]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 3:54pm

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.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 5:50pm

I actually found the show to be cathartic and inspring, but whatevs...

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 6:04pm

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

[xoangel2789xo]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 9:45pm

I would probably advise against bringing a depressed person. Or maybe if you do bring them, keep a close watch on them afterwards? idn.

[antonijan]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 4:39am

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.

[antonijan]

Posted: 9/27/08 at 6:37am

I have finally seen the tour and enjoyed it...

partly because of my own little research, listening to the cast cd and avoiding the major spoilers...

that I am guilty of revealing myself.

Sorry.

I have decided that I could bring my friend since the gs was silent...and not at all violent compared to the loud bang from JB.

The musical didn't depress me at all but definitely stirred some emotions specially the father and son confrontation, Moritz struggle and Melc's predicament.

The gay scene between Hans and his friend in the 2nd act was kinda delivered in a comedic way...

I wonder if it was meant to be that way but it helped lighten the mood.

Great production! Amazing Cast.