Spring Awakening

In the world of acting there are a lot of controversial plays and musicals. Now, until I was about thirteen I had not been exposed to many. I really wasn’t exposed to anything controversial except for world tragedies such as September 11. My exposure changed when I went to see “Spring Awakening” for the first time that fall at Simpson College. (Read more about Theater at Simpson: http://simpson.edu/theatre/.) My cousin, Caleb, was in it. That’s why we were going as a family. I saw it again just last summer and I could actually watch it this time instead of sitting there horrified that I was watching a show with this type content.  

            For those of you who are not too into acting and plays, who don’t know every word of every play by heart, it basically touches on every sad part of being a teenager. (http://www.springawakening.com/) The sadness, the nostalgia, the anger, the rebellion, and yes even the sexuality. Like I said it’s kind of controversial.

            Now, I just wanted to give my opinion on this play/musical. From the mature, art loving side of me: I think it is very well written and both times I saw it, it was acted wonderfully. I think it does truly express the emotions of how it feels to be a teenager in today’s society even though it was set and written in late nineteenth century Germany.

            Okay. Now from the immature, adolescent in me: It just made me so sad! Not to mention you can only take so many sexual connotations when your mother is to your left and your father to your right. Honestly, sometimes I still jam out to the rock music in it, because who doesn’t love a good jam session once in a while, right? It is just such a sad musical!

            My cousin played Moritz Stiefel. Spoiler Alert! He kills himself. Although I loved seeing my cousin acting it was weird seeing him carry around his own head!

            I can’t tell you if I like the show or not, because I don’t really know, myself! I think the content is just depressing and only portrays the sad parts about being a teenager. I also think that, at least the times I’ve seen it, it was entertaining and captivating to the audience. So basically what I’m saying is; I will never take my kids to go see it but I would definitely go see it again.