Spring Awakening is a show that usually goes down one of two ways for viewers. They either consider it a wonderful show about honesty, expression, and self discovery, or they end up asking themselves why they just sat down and watched something so vulgar. The musical is about teens discovering secrets about sexuality and growing up, and those who try to keep them from making these discoveries. This theme has consequently made it one of the most controversial shows of all time. Oh, and the Plymouth Players are performing it this semester.
Spring Awakening began as a play written by German dramatist, Frank Wedekind in 1890, and due to some of its more mature themes, has been banned and censored many times since its first performance. It premiered in England for only two nights in 1963 before it was heavily censored and banned until 1968. A musical adaption was created in 2006, making this old story a contemporary hit, as well as rekindling the debate over its content.
It is this musical’s history of controversy and revision that is making some people on campus wonder, “Why are we performing this at PSU?”
According to the enthusiastic cast and crew behind Plymouth State’s production of the musical, it is because every piece of content in the show is not only important, but completely connected to the viewers. Disputable themes such as sex, pornography, homosexuality, abortion, and suicide are all incorporated into the performance, which is precisely why the cast believes the musical is so important. These are the themes that they believe the audience will be able to relate to. “I can honestly promise that anyone who comes to this show will, in some way, find a connection to it.” says Luke Meierdiercks, who is playing Hanschen in the musical. The cast firmly agreed with Luke’s sentiment, and cited the importance of the truth being presented on stage through music.
“Music provides expression they (teenagers) weren’t allowed to have in the 19th century,” says Sam St Jean. “Whenever a song starts, it’s a transition into modern day.” According to the cast, these songs are the characters way of conveying honesty and self expression to the audience. For example, in the song, “All That’s Known” a character reflects on the narrow-mindedness of society, and resolves to change things. “In other musicals, a normal song tells more of a story.” says one cast member. “This focuses on one moment that these people are having. That feeling they have projected a million times over in this indie rock musical.”
But how will the audience react to the show? The cast and crew is not terribly concerned about bad reactions from the audience when it comes to the show’s harsher subject matter. When the topic of audience members getting up and leaving due to some of the shows content, director Morgan Murphy stated, “Anyone who leaves is part of the reason we do the show! If they leave, they are part of why the play exists.”
The whole reason the cast is putting on this performance is because they believe, like Wedekind did back in 1800’s, that people are afraid of confronting the truth about issues regarding sex, homosexuality, etc. “People will be shocked,” says cast member Alyssa Dumas, “but they will be thinking about it, because nothing so true and so honest has ever been presented to them this way.” According to St. Jean, this show “provides a voice for those who are afraid of expressing themselves so directly.”
Spring Awakening will be on stage at PSU for four performances this coming November.