Today, my friends Miss Jo, Monsieur J. and I went to see our university's production of the acclaimed musical Spring Awakening.
For which I auditioned... and wasn't cast. Grrrrrrrrrr... They obviously can't recognise real talent when it hits them in the face like a pile of poo. Seriously. I thought I'd done a pretty good job, just take a look at my audition tape.
Spring Awakening is an American musical based on a 1891 play of the same name written by the German playwright Frank Wedekind. The title is an allegory for the discovery of sexuality and adulthood, and as the finale song The Song Of Purple Summer suggests, new beginnings and new life (despite the theme of death which is inherent).
Basically, the musical is about sex. Teenagers discovering plain, raw sex.
The basis of the plot should be quite interesting to be honest. Shocking, even, which is how I usually like my plays/musicals.
The basis of the plot should be quite interesting to be honest. Shocking, even, which is how I usually like my plays/musicals.
Indeed, some (*cough* Miss Jo *cough*) gasped in absolute horror at various scenes (ie. when the hot guy playing Melchior pulled his breeches down so you could see his bum; suggested sadomasochism and masturbation; two males kissing passionately. I won't go on for fear of disturbing sensitive souls.)
The singing and dancing were good (Miss Jo particularly enjoyed the leadman's singing and his bum)
I think that what surprised me the most, however, was how uncomfortable the musical made the audience feel. After all, aren't modern-day audiences used to all this sexual outwardness and swearing via the media and the expansion of pornography to the extent it becomes practically fully acceptable?
"We are used to sex scenes on TV or in films," says Miss Jo, "but when you see it on stage, you can feel the tension in the audience. Especially when the fit guys pulling down their underpants on stage are fellow students."
HOWEVER.
OK yes, it was pretty awesome that I got to laugh for an hour or two at my friend shielding her puritan eyes
from these abominable images before her (except when peeking at
Melchior's bum a couple of times).
But other than the fact the musical elicited some gasps and claps (most of the audience were friends of the cast), I found it...
PRETTY. BLOODY. BORING.
Honestly. I'm sorry, Uni Musical Theatre Soc, but I could BARELY stay awake. The plot was slow, disconnected and predictable. The musical numbers had nothing to do with the subject matter, which made the story untenable. The decor was boring. The costumes so bland Mother Theresa could pass off as Lagy Gaga next to them. All in all, there was NOTHING to titillate my emotions or curiosity.
Maybe I'm just not a fan of musicals I haven't starred in, simply because they could have done with having me in them.
Ah well. Organic green tea time.
You can listen to the entirety of the soundtrack on Spotify: Steven Sater – Spring Awakening
Copyright © Caffeine Bubbles, Kenilworth 05/02/11
