Show: Spring Awakening
Location: Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool
Date: Thursday October 28 2021
Time: 19:30
Running Time: 140 Minutes (incl. Interval)
Age Rating: 14+
Performers: Jack Wright, India Poulaud, Isaac Hartill, Poppy Williams, Toby Holmes, Isobel Green, Jake Burke, Olivia Hebden, Harvey Farrell, Jessica Ratcliffe, Daniel Wilson & Amy Groves
Production Company: First Act Drama Tuition
Writers: Duncan Sheik & Steven Sater
Director: Kit Phillips
Our latest theatre review is for Spring Awakening at Liverpool’s Hope Street Theatre. So, let’s take a look at Spring Awakening!
Spring Awakening
Background Of Spring Awakening
When Sater and Sheik’s coming-of-age musical debuted on Broadway back in 2006, it garnered extensive critical acclaim, picking up a staggering eight Tony Awards. This provocative, genre-defining tale of teenage angst and burgeoning sexuality is infused with a dynamic indie-rock soundtrack that is certainly not for the faint of heart. In Warrington-based First Act’s inaugural musical production, the young cast tackles the complex material with all the maturity and flair of a professional production company. Each actor possesses a wealth of talent that belies their tender years and echoes the narrative’s sentiment that the power of youth is not to be denied.
Story
This show unfolds against the backdrop of late 19th-century Germany. It’s a landscape that classifies the notions of sexuality and adolescent desire as taboo. The show begins with the naive Wendla (India Poulaud), lamenting her ignorance surrounding the intricacies of her advancing womanhood. With her hauntingly beautiful delivery of perhaps the musical’s most iconic number, ‘Mama Who Bore Me’, Poulaud perfectly sets the melancholic and inquisitive tone of the piece.
This desperate yearning for knowledge is echoed by the other adolescents in the town, all of whom are grappling with their own swiftly evolving identities and ever-growing desires. In their own pursuit of information, the boys look to gifted radical, Melchior Gabor, who is played quite sublimely by Jack Wright. When Melchior and Wendla rekindle their friendship, new sensations of love and lust threaten to lead to drama and destruction.
Issues
Over the course of the two-hour show, the narrative navigates the complex issues of sexual abuse, homosexuality and suicide. But whilst the subject matter is often dark and difficult, the show is also incredibly funny, compelling and poignant. The sobering plotlines are greatly elevated by Sheik and Sater’s brilliant score. From the folky wistfulness of songs such as ‘Touch Me’ and ‘Whispering’, to the rousing, rocky anarchy of group numbers ‘The Bitch Of Living’ and ‘Totally Fucked’, this a show that packs an almighty punch.
Analysis Of Spring Awakening
I’ll admit that I was slightly apprehensive when I saw how young the core cast was. ‘Spring Awakening’ poses a really challenging prospect for even the most seasoned of performers. However, I needn’t have worried. This is not a youth production; it is simply an outstanding show that just so happens to be performed by young actors. Moreover, the fact that the show featured actual teenagers playing teenagers, significantly helped to enhance the authenticity of the narrative.
There wasn’t a single member of the cast who didn’t have their moment to shine. Personally, I thought the standout performer was Jack Wright in the lead role of Melchior. Not only was he vocally excellent, but the subtlety and sensitivity of his acting would not look out of place on a professional stage.
Comic Relief
A special mention must also go to Toby Holmes. His scene-stealing turn as bisexual Hanschen injected a welcome dose of comic relief into the piece. For me, the vocal highlight was Isle (Poppy Williams) and Martha’s (Olivia Hebden) duet ‘The Dark I Know Well’, with the young actors expertly handling the harrowing subject matter as well as delivering pitch-perfect performances.
Another of the show’s impressive musical elements came with the fact that a number of cast members, including India Poulaud (Wendla) and Harvey Farrell (Georg), played their own instruments. With that in mind, there is little doubt that this is a cast full of triple-threats.
Other Notes
In addition to individual brilliance, the collective harmonies in numbers such as the finale, ‘The Song Of Purple Summer’, were breath-taking, and arguably better than any I’ve heard in a professional production. The Hope Street Theatre is an intimate venue, and the simple but effective staging added to the atmospheric nature of the show.
My only minor criticism is that there were a couple of occasions whereby the diction made it difficult to hear what was being said, but this was only in rare moments and didn’t detract from the excellence of the work. It is also important to note that, despite the young cast, this is not a family show. The themes and language used throughout mean that the production is probably not suitable for under-14s.
Summary Of Spring Awakening
This is a bold and brilliant piece of theatre that perfectly captures the turmoil and tenderness of adolescence. This may be First Act’s inaugural musical endeavour but this in no way undermines the production’s accomplished execution. Certainly, this is a cast of young actors who deal with the complex material with admirable ability, and all unquestionably have very bright futures ahead.
Notes
Target Audience: 14+
Content: Strong Language, Sexual References & References To Sexual Abuse
Recommendation?: Yes
Overall Rating: 9/10 – Outstanding
Spring Awakening Further Links
So, Spring Awakening runs at the Hope Street Theatre until Friday October 29 2021. So, to purchase tickets, please click here.
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