Spring Awakening - the play

[overthemoon419]

Spring Awakening - the play#1

Posted: 3/25/07 at 9:39pm

I'm finding many versions of the play. Those of you who have read it, which one would you recommend?

"It's not for sissies, contrary to popular belief." - Tommy Tune, on musical theatre.

My avatar: Yummy, no?

[LimelightMike]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#2

Posted: 3/25/07 at 9:49pm

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/1557832455/sr=8-1/qid=1174873697/ref=dp_image_0/002-6635325-1836066?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1174873697&sr=8-1

[antiandrewx]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#2

Posted: 3/25/07 at 9:56pm

Seconding the Eric Bentley suggestion.

[MotorTink]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#3

Posted: 3/25/07 at 9:59pm

That is the one I read.

BroadwayBoobs: I'll give all of you who weren't there a hint of who took the pictures ...it rhymes with shameless

SOMMS: I knew it was Tink!

[Katurian2]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#4

Posted: 3/25/07 at 10:18pm

I bought the Bentley version at the theatre- it has an amazing introduction section with some very interesting history about the show.

"Are you sorry for civilization? I am sorry for it too." ~Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck

[Plum]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#5

Posted: 3/25/07 at 10:20pm

TinyURL is your friend. So, for that matter, is the "Optional Link" field.

There's also a Jonathan Franzen translation of the play, though I think it's only been performed once.

[think_of_me2007]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#6

Posted: 3/25/07 at 10:37pm

I've read the Bently version.
I recommend it, but then again, it was the only version I found

[AC126748]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#7

Posted: 3/25/07 at 10:40pm

Ted Hughes' translation is piercing. Douglas Langworthy's translation is quite good; sadly, though, it's never been published.

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

[DezBryner]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#8

Posted: 3/25/07 at 10:41pm

Would anyone recommend reading the play before seeing the musical?? or is it better to experience it fresh??

[think_of_me2007]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#9

Posted: 3/25/07 at 10:42pm

I think it helped interpreting(understanding) some of the scenes, but it will spoil it.

[defyingravity11]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#10

Posted: 3/25/07 at 10:43pm

Bentley! That's the one I read and the information in the Intro. is great as well.

[Marlene]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#11

Posted: 3/25/07 at 10:46pm

I read the Ted Hughes translation. I don't have anythign to compare it to, but it was good...

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#12

Posted: 3/25/07 at 11:14pm

I read Bentley's.

[overthemoon419]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#13

Posted: 3/26/07 at 1:30am

Thanks, everyone -- I ended up picking up Bentley's.

"It's not for sissies, contrary to popular belief." - Tommy Tune, on musical theatre.

My avatar: Yummy, no?

[HeyMrMusic]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#14

Posted: 3/26/07 at 2:00am

I've performed the Ted Hughes translation. I haven't read the Bentley version, but I've compared some passages and I think Hughes's works better. The way he uses the language is beautiful.

~Steven

[Yankeefan007]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#15

Posted: 5/19/08 at 11:12pm

To those who've performed it -

There are 30-odd characters...how can you double/triple it? Who plays whom?

[A Director]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#16

Posted: 5/20/08 at 1:00am

I directed the play and used a translation by Edward Bond. Before picking this translation, I read the one by Eric Bentley which was so-so and one by Tom Osborn which was performed at the Royal Court in 1963. I liked the Osborn, but the rights were not available. I don't know anything about Frazen's translation. I read somewhere he hates the musical.

Any Bentley translation is of historical interest, but there are better translations. I'm familiar with Douglas Langworthy's translation of The Good Person of Szechuan which is better than Bentley's translation.

Back to SA, Bentley mistranslates the title as Spring's Awakening. The season isn't awakening. As for casting, I had some of the actors who played schoolboys double as boys in the reformatory.

[millie_dillmount]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#17

Posted: 5/20/08 at 1:04am

"Would anyone recommend reading the play before seeing the musical?? or is it better to experience it fresh??"

I would see the show first that way nothing is spoiled for you. Then go back and read the play to help clarify any scenes, but remember, there are differences.

"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

[LittlexFallxOfxRain]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#18

Posted: 5/21/08 at 7:58pm

I read Bentley, which seems to be the popular one, but that's the only version I've read.

[Yankeefan007]

re: Spring Awakening - the play#19

Posted: 5/21/08 at 8:00pm

I've read a few...Franzen's is my favorite. It's the most accessable.