The Homestretch for SPRING AWAKENING- Page 2

[Smartful Dodger]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:14pm

My reaction to a handful of previous Pulitzer winners, Munk, is equally as rib-splitting as yours here.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, back at you, in equal measure.

[Smartful Dodger]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:15pm

My reaction to a handful of previous Pulitzer winners, Munk, is equally as rib-splitting as yours here.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, back at you, in equal measure.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 10:29pm

Brantley was on the commitee for many years so I did assume he was still on it.
I know he threatened to quit but I didn't know that he had.

I was waiting for Munk's response to this.

[BitchofaLiving]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 11:15pm

i saw the show today and it brought me to tears during the final number. i was sobbing! not one show has done that since my first RENT show. i think anything is possible by way of awarding pure genius like this!!!

[javerich]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 2:19pm

Oh, rickydrummer, I wish you had marked that costume change as a spoiler. I was looking forward to returning to SA once it was frozen and I wish I hadn't known that in advance!!

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 2:51pm

i saw it Saturday night and they were still in period costumes for the final song...

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 2:52pm

bitch, what exactly were you crying about?

I wish I was moved by this piece, but I wasn't. What moved you?

[Tom1071]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 4:51pm

That costume change did not stay in the show.

[typecastme22]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 5:06pm

They changed the finale to the actors wearing modern clothes at one point during previews?

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 5:17pm

Apparently. I haven't seen the show but I'm really glad that the change is out. I saw the clip of them singing the finale on the Internet. It works so much better keeping them in their period costumes.

[rickydrummer]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 7:13pm

Well, I'm really glad I saw it once with them in modern clothes at the finale.

I'm really not sure how I feel about it either way. It's been wracking my brain for the few days. Does anyone have an opinion on what that would add or detract from the piece?

It says something about how well the show relates to people of today to have them in modern dress, and it almost makes the show seem like there are two shows -- the 1891 story and the modern rock expressionist story. And that seems to me like it could be a good thing or a bad thing. I don't know.

Also, another question: "There Once Was a Pirate" is supposed to be on the cast album. Is there any reason why it's not listed on the Playbill.com press release track listing or on the official Decca Broadway website? I suppose it could be one of those hidden tracks.

[Smartful Dodger]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 7:48pm

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER ***





At the end, I think the thing that moved me most was the spirit of hope that consumes Melchior when he summons the courage to move forward in spite of the loss of his friend and his first love. For anyone, especially a teenager, to see through the haze of profound grief and persevere -- well, that's a pretty moving experience in itself, heightened here by Sheik's brilliant closing anthem. I get and respect why people might sob here.
Updated On: 12/4/06 at 07:48 PM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 7:57pm

It's still not selling well, unfortunately.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:05pm

According to the Pulitzer criteria, the prize for Drama goes to "a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in source and dealing with American life."

The operative word is 'preferably.' The Pulitzer committee has made exceptions. Notably Doug Wright's "I Am My Own Wife." Another one: Goodrich and Hackett's "The Diary of Anne Frank."

Like any prize, it's a subjective call. And the Pulitzers have blown it now and then, too, like refusing to give it to Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf?" or choosing to award 'Harvey' over 'The Glass Menagerie." I recently saw "Clean House" and can't believe that was even a finalist.

Musicals that have won the Pulitzer include 'How to Succeed' (1962), 'A Chorus Line' (1976), 'Sunday in the Park With George' (1985) and 'Rent' (1996). That's about one musical every 10 years or so. The Pulitzers could be due to recognize another one about now: 'Spring Awakening' or 'Grey Gardens.'

[Smartful Dodger]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:31pm

Good summary, Wayman! And, were it not for the apparent flaws of the GREY GARDENS book, it might also be a contender.

From my perspective, the SPRING AWAKENING book is extremely tight, the two acts working in perfect complement to one another with wonderful narrative and character arcs across both.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:41pm

SPRING AWAKENING will not win the Pulitzer Prize. You guys have absolutely got to be kidding me.

THE CLEAN HOUSE, on the other hand, is a brilliant play that I'm assuming went right over your head.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:41pm

Do you think it would be beneficial to listen to the cast recording before seeing this?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:44pm

I would say don't listen to it. The music is what makes this show...you don't want that ruined before you go in.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:49pm

Thank you

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:49pm

The "original" book was tight, this is just a cut and paste version of that, SPRING AWAKENINGS may win some award for it's music, but not for the book or lyrics.
I gotta agree with Munk here, this has NO chance at that prize.
GREY GARDENS would have a much better chance with it's very American Subject matter and it's originality, but I don't even think that will happen.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:55pm

Exactly. I read the original play the weekend after I saw the show. Cut and paste is exactly right.

As much as I loved GREY GARDENS, I don't know if it's Pulitzer worthy. That would be cool, though.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 1:35am

I'm 100% with Curtain and Munk. I loved spring awakening, but there's no way in HELL it's winning any Pulitzer. Sure, it may be better than previous pulitzer winners (like "Rent") but just because it's a better musical than Rent doens't mean it'll win the Pulitzer. in anyway. shape. or form.

really, imho, Rent shouldn't have won the pulitzer, and I have a very strong reason as to why I think it did. (however, this would REALLY piss people off, so PM if you're curious)

And unless the reviews are HARDCORE raves, it probably aint' winning no Tony either - not with Curtains and LoveMusik coming up.

[Smartful Dodger]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 5:14am

I defer further comment until Monday morning after all of the notices are posted (but without the benefit of the proposed "Rotten Lemons" rating system .

Peace, all...

[Katecab99]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 8:21am

I saw it Saturday, from stage seating, and I just simply didn't get what the "hype" was about.

I have to admit that I LOVED the music - I would buy the cast recording in a minute. I think that the majority of the cast is incredibly talented (Lauren Pritchard (sp?) - that girl needs to record an album!).

BUT, there were actually times when I had to hold myself back from giggling about things that were definitley not intended to be funny. A friend I was with used the word "lame" to describe it, and, nonspecifically, I felt the same way.

I may have to go back and revisit it at a later time, but as of right now, it didn't catch me. And the fact that anyone can compare it to RENT or suggest that Pulitzer, in my opinion, is simply ridiculous.

[rickydrummer]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 9:10am

She IS recording an album according to her MySpace page.

Don't have the link off-hand, but it's probably pretty easy to find.