Ssssssssssssh! Spring Dozing Off

Why is this board so very, very quiet about what was hailed as the next big musical super hit to hit the West End since..... um? whatever!
It seems to be going down the path of 'The Drowsy Chaperone' and slipping from view without any great mark being made in the UK.
When it opened in New York, that board, and this, were alive with the sound of 'Spring Awakening' fans going absolutely crazy for it!
I'm thinking we shall see another new show at the Novello if 'Spring' limps along through summer and into autumn the way it is.
It wont be around next spring I'm sure!

It just felt like it was too soon to transfer it over to a larger venue, I felt they should have left it a few months and used that time to build on the marketing and advertising.

Hopefully, word-of-mouth will keep it going.

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That poster of Charlotte Wakefield wearing black stockings and leaping in the air that is on the Underground doesn't do her or the show any favours.

The one of Aneurin isn't much better.

I know, the one of me in black stockings all over the tube did wonders for 'Kiss Of The Sider Woman'!

IMO Spring Awakening is THE best musical currently running in the West End. And I rank it in my top ten musicals I have ever seen in 40 years of going to the theatre. It will be a tragedy if this does not run - especially when I look at some of the mindless drivel that seems to be able to pack in audiences for long periods of time.

It is funny, groundbreaking, has a really powerful edge and deeply moving. (One of the few times I have ever shed genuine tears in a theatre.) And the score is breathtaking - gives me goosebumps every time I play it - and I play it a hell of a lot.

Add to that the fact that it has a quite amazingly talented cast - everyone is great and Aneurin Barnard is sensational as Melchior.

If this show closes simply because they did not market it well, it will - as I said before - be one of the great tragedies.

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On my to do list, so no opinion, but A Little Night Music first.

It's such a shame that this show is struggling. I loved it and will rush to see it again next time I'm in London. Sadly though when I saw it the stalls were only two thirds full and both the balcony and grand circle were closed and I've heard similar tales on other days.

Spring Awakening is like a breath of fresh air in the West End and its young cast are enormously talented. I've got everything crossed that things pick up for them as it'll be a tragedy if this show goes under.

Right, Mama - that's a sad but true point. The masses would rather see mindless nonsense like Hairpsray, Mamma Mia and Priscilla. (Ducks and gets ready for all the punches that will be swung my way lol)

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Mama weren't you the guy in the tight tshirt, baring the Never Forget logo, pulled up to reveal some ripped abs?

It saddens me the truth of what you are saying, and saddens me further to think something like Dirty Dancing the Musical will run over a wonderful unique and FINALLY original show such as Spring Awakening. If it closes for another jukebox musical I might just lay down, lose all my faith in musical theatre and die!

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If it helps Dirty Dancing cant be selling out anymore, theres a few £40 deals popping up now.

Top two levels were closed today =(

Joshy I know what you mean about the feeling when an audience, no matter how small, rushes to its feet to applaude an amazing show that seems to be struggling to stay alive.
I sat through 'Sweeney Todd' 3 or 4 times at Drury Lane in its final weeks and it was heartbreaking seeing as little as 200 people tearing the roof off the theatre in praise of the incredible production they had just seen, But the look on the faces of the company couldn't hide the knowing that the show only had weeks to live. Back then theatres didn't shut sections off if a house was empty, they just let people sit where they liked and seeing 200 spread around Drury Lane is soul destroying for a company.

This happened to the London production of 'The Rink' at the Cambridge. It opened in Manchester to stunning reviews, full houses and within a few weeks it opened in the West End to the complete opposite! It only took the management a week or two to decide to close the show. As soon as that was announced the theatre was full to capacity at every performance. The midweek matinees were full of showbiz folk who just had to see this amazing show that was going to close so soon. Petitions were started to reverse the closing or at least let it run another 2 months as it seemed the business was there despite its reviews. Plans were drawn up for it to transfer from its original management, who had totally given up on it, and anther to take over for it to transfer to the Lyric on Shaftesbury Ave.
Everything fell on deaf ears and it closed less than 3 weeks after opening.
The last 3 or 4 perfs were some of the most electric I have ever witnessed on stage.

These are just two shows that have suffered this tragic turn of fate in London in the last few decades and it will happen again to many more.
Myself and many, many others feel that 'Spring Awakening' seems to be the next one on this sad path.

Updated On: 4/16/09 at 05:41 AM