Spring Awakening

I don’t know why, but I felt like I needed to see this quaint new musical called, Spring Awakening. It could have been the five Tony awards it acquired this year, or the amount of controversial attention it received. What I do know is that I was surprised, impressed and awkwardly uncomfortable through the duration of the evening.
I honestly knew nothing of what this play would be like, other than an article I read in the San Diego Reader and a sample of the soundtrack that I listened to while covering a break in the music department at work. To be even more honest, neither of those enticed me much to go out and actually see this production. It wasn’t until I found out that the production was closing that weekend at the Balboa Theatre, when I decided this was something I probably shouldn’t miss. I’m glad to say that I didn’t.
Before I get to the part where I actually go see, Spring Awakening, I feel it is very important to discuss the acquiring of my tickets. If there is one thing the reader takes away from this blog, I hope that it is the awareness of the availability of “rush tickets.” Now this concept, although new to me, reeks of genius! For two hours, starting three hours BEFORE the show begins, the same tickets people have already paid more than double for, are on sale for twelve and twenty dollars. It’s reasonable that these won’t be the best seats in the house because the advance tickets buyers already picked those, but they really are not horrible. It just provides an opportunity for those theatre lovers lacking the required funds, like say, a full-time student, to attend things they never would have before.
My friend and I get arrived right as the play was beginning and the opening scene is of a little girl asking her mother the time-old question of where babies originate. This is a typical question found in today’s entertainment world, but because of the mothers answer, the audience later discovers that this was a very defining moment in the young girl’s life. For the unsuspecting, this also introduces the main theme of the play: sex. Who would have thought??
I wasn’t kidding when I said the play was awkwardly uncomfortable. From the scene where a young male student holds a picture in one hand while physically pleasing himself with the other, to the moment where the new, young couple basically has sex on stage, I knew this was not a play I would want to see sitting next to my mother. Once I got over the initial shock, I appreciated the raciness of the whole thing that is truly needed to convey the issues and emotions that adolescents deal with today. I should know; I was one of them!
Overall, my personal favorite thing about this production was the band/orchestra being in plain sight the whole time, upstage of the actual actors. The reason I was reluctant to actually attend this play at all was because, from what I knew, the music was more modern and pop-based, unlike the traditional musical that I enjoy. To my surprise the collaboration of classic musical influence and modern rock was truly moving. I could hear every instrument, individually, do what it needed to create this modern day masterpiece.
The music and the concept are well on their way to becoming a much more talked about event. I wouldn’t be surprised that when this tour of the production is over and the second is on the way, tickets will be sold out nationwide. I advise those that can, to attend and invite everyone you know AND their mothers (if they would be comfortable in that kind of situation).