CityLife

Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening
The Lowry
June 14, 2011

Written in the 1890s and promptly banned, Wedekind’s infamous play of teenage angst and repressive adults was turned into a controversial Broadway (2006) and West End (2008) musical that had the critics salivating and the public staying away in their droves.

It resurfaces now in an impressive production from one-time Liverpool-based (now London and Scotland) Sell A Door Theatre Company.

The original, and this quite faithful musical adaptation, deals with sex, abortion, homosexuality, suicide and the hypocrisy of the confused and bemused parents. Not dated then as far as subject matter is concerned.

Add a melodic and soulful rock score with nods towards Paul Simon and it is very much a musical for today, quite hard-hitting and unafraid to shock.
 
You can see why it hasn’t been a box office hit but at The Lowry it has somehow found the teenage audience who will appreciate it most.

Director Pete Gallagher has encouraged excellent performances from a highly talented young cast of 13, led by Billy Cullum, as the manic Moritz, who cracks under the pressures of his life, and Jonathan Eio, as the wise-beyond-his-years Melchior.

The set of twin staircases and a sinister-looking tree also features six playground swings that help underline the youth of the characters, and the punchy on-stage band of four. The production is now right at the end of a national tour and we should be grateful to The Lowry for scheduling it.

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