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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
favourite musical favourite cast
also another tick on goodreads but shh
also another tick on goodreads but shh
My goodness.
I can't speak for how one would interpret this book if they only read it, and hadn't seen the show beforehand, but let me say, that when I read it, I see the play running through my mind's eye behind the words I read. It's mesmerizing as a show; loud and in your face with the music, though with incredibly tender moments. As a book though, you just fly through it, getting the little nuances that you missed or couldn't quite hear when you see it. Suddenly, the characters are left to your interpretation, rather than the actors'. Such a different experience and I think that everyone needs the book.
Of course, you have to see the show too. Now.
I can't speak for how one would interpret this book if they only read it, and hadn't seen the show beforehand, but let me say, that when I read it, I see the play running through my mind's eye behind the words I read. It's mesmerizing as a show; loud and in your face with the music, though with incredibly tender moments. As a book though, you just fly through it, getting the little nuances that you missed or couldn't quite hear when you see it. Suddenly, the characters are left to your interpretation, rather than the actors'. Such a different experience and I think that everyone needs the book.
Of course, you have to see the show too. Now.
This is very fun to read after finishing Wedekind’s original play. I’ve always enjoyed the music, and I’d seen a bootleg of this show in years past. It’s a great masterpiece, and I appreciate how much work the lyrics are able to do to the story, considering how abstract the imagery can become from time to time.
I can’t wait to see a live production.
I can’t wait to see a live production.
I have a bit of a complicated relationship with Spring Awakening. I saw the original play performed live first, was not very impressed with the annotated script or the original Broadway production, but then decided to give it another chance after seeing an incredible virtual adaptation by MSD Productions during the COVID-19 pandemic and clips from the 2015 Deaf West adaptation. My final thoughts are that I enjoy and respect both, but it is a “pick your poison” material; one is going to love one or the other, or like/dislike both. Overall, Spring Awakening is a fascinating stage production centered around teen adolescence, sexuality and growth that the reader/audience member can relate to and appreciate the theatrical experience.
First written by Frank Wedekind in 1891 then adapted into a musical in 2007 by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, the play’s setting is late 19th century Germany centering around a group of teenagers within their everyday life. The characters face abuse (at home and school), misunderstanding of puberty, rape, self-doubt, destructive education, suicide, abortion, death, adolescence, and potential self understanding. The play serves as an expressionist/avant-garde theatre piece entitled as "A Children's Tragedy" while the musical is a rock music adaptation that makes the teenagers very modern to their timeline and changes certain scenes that might bother people depending on the production's representation (such as the Hayloft scene with Wendla and Melchior and the Finale). Both stories however show the struggles of growing up and finding acceptance even during times of turmoil. The play and musical present how the teen characters have to find their way of understanding by themselves and decide how their past hardships will shape them in the future.
Even with the different adaptations, both the play and musical of Spring Awakening successfully portrays the positive and negative periods of life many teenagers experience and how they attempt to live through them when their society and families do not accept them. This would also be a theatre piece I would recommend both theatre and non theatre people to see performed live and only read both the play and musical scripts afterwards. Seeing this particular story perform live on stage will get one invested with the plot and characters, and can help to enjoy the experience more. I personally found seeing the virtual production of Spring Awakening more enjoyable than just reading the scripts for the first time, even bringing me to tears at the end. A mixed-bag and strange review, but I do highly recommend Spring Awakening as a must-see (play OR musical) performance, and come to your own decision.
First written by Frank Wedekind in 1891 then adapted into a musical in 2007 by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, the play’s setting is late 19th century Germany centering around a group of teenagers within their everyday life. The characters face abuse (at home and school), misunderstanding of puberty, rape, self-doubt, destructive education, suicide, abortion, death, adolescence, and potential self understanding. The play serves as an expressionist/avant-garde theatre piece entitled as "A Children's Tragedy" while the musical is a rock music adaptation that makes the teenagers very modern to their timeline and changes certain scenes that might bother people depending on the production's representation (such as the Hayloft scene with Wendla and Melchior and the Finale). Both stories however show the struggles of growing up and finding acceptance even during times of turmoil. The play and musical present how the teen characters have to find their way of understanding by themselves and decide how their past hardships will shape them in the future.
Even with the different adaptations, both the play and musical of Spring Awakening successfully portrays the positive and negative periods of life many teenagers experience and how they attempt to live through them when their society and families do not accept them. This would also be a theatre piece I would recommend both theatre and non theatre people to see performed live and only read both the play and musical scripts afterwards. Seeing this particular story perform live on stage will get one invested with the plot and characters, and can help to enjoy the experience more. I personally found seeing the virtual production of Spring Awakening more enjoyable than just reading the scripts for the first time, even bringing me to tears at the end. A mixed-bag and strange review, but I do highly recommend Spring Awakening as a must-see (play OR musical) performance, and come to your own decision.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love this show and it was overall good but it the lyrics were different from the cast recording but that's not bad
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Suicide
Moderate: Child death, Forced institutionalization, Abortion
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I watched the play whilst at the same time reading this book.
This is such a relevant and relatable play.. the emotions and pains and questions that these kids have are so common and natural that it almost seems based on your own life? I loved Wendla's sweet yet tragic arc.. Melchi's 'fight the system' attitude and poor Moritz's devastating conclusion..
I took a lot from this play and it feels like a privilege to have watched/read it.
This is such a relevant and relatable play.. the emotions and pains and questions that these kids have are so common and natural that it almost seems based on your own life? I loved Wendla's sweet yet tragic arc.. Melchi's 'fight the system' attitude and poor Moritz's devastating conclusion..
I took a lot from this play and it feels like a privilege to have watched/read it.
one of my all time favorite shows. it makes you think, makes you put yourself in their situation. what it would be like to live like that. no contact, let alone sexual. almost being a grown woman but still being told that babies come from the stork, just so you think sex does not exist. its riveting.