This isn’t your grandmother’s musical. This isn’t your mother’s musical either. That is what makes “Spring Awakening” so appealing to the young theatre attendee. You won’t find any show-tunes on the level of “Mamma Mia!” here. But if a score of alternative rock in the range of “Rent” is more your speed, sit front and center. The production of “Spring Awakening” put on by the PSU Drama Department is a smorgasbord of topics ranging from sex to suicide, and is handled with the utmost care and expertise as to not weaken or exaggerate the gravity of the subject matter.
The phrase “less is more” is as suitable an expression as any for the overall production of the show. Playing in the “Studio Theater” of the Silver Center, the close proximity of the seats and the stage gives everyone the feeling of being immersed in the show. There are no major set pieces, so the viewer has to use their imagination to visualize the setting. To display it in this way is an engaging approach. It is up to the spectator to form a setting in their own mind and it’s enjoyable task to dream up a location of your own.
Of course, the most important part of any musical is, you guessed it, the music. The score by Duncan Sheik and lyrics from Steven Sater are of an alternative-rock variety. While there are some softer and slower pieces (such as “Word of Your Body”) most of the arrangement has a harder and faster arrangement, most notably in “The B**** of Living”; even more of a reason for younger audiences to enjoy a show as good as this one. To say “Spring Awakening” is only geared towards younger audiences is a false claim though. However, it happens to resonate more forcefully with those younger attendees due to the subject matter.
Performances are just as important. One disclaimer about the show is that there are multiple characters performed by one actor and one actress. They are credited as “Adult Men” and “Adult Women” respectively. It is important to note this feature as it may confuse newcomers to theater. Veterans of the art will be able to pick up on the directorial style, but to the amateur theater-goer it could be somewhat puzzling. The lead roles of Wendla (Alyssa Dumas) and Melchior (Andrew Frietas) were executed in great form. The supporting cast did a phenomenal job of backing up the main characters, most notably Moritz (Jason Faria) with a stellar rendition of “Don’t Do Sadness.”
There is loss in the literal sense in this play, but more importantly there is a spiritual gaining and empowerment that not only do the characters experience but also the audience viewing as well. “Spring Awakening” runs Veteran’s Day Weekend 9th-11th and the next weekend of the 16th-18th.