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Musical zest will stir
the sleepy
SPRING AWAKENING
Novello Theatre
LESSON 1: Compare the programme pics to truly appreciate the young cast’s electrocution-style transformations.
Lesson 2: Look closely at the ill-fated Moritz. Has he really gone for that old get-out-of PE trick – rubbing Vicks around his eyes to achieve a deathly, insomniac result?
Lesson 3: This play is probably not most comfortably viewed with your younger sister.
The story of Spring Awakening has reached all corners of popular culture, even featuring in the new series of vacant Beverly Hills youth drama 90210.
Based on Frank Wedekind’s controversial 1891 novel, it’s the age-old tale of teenage self-discovery, tragedy, human error and death over shame.
For most of the cast, this is their professional debut so it’s sad to hear that, despite glowing reviews, the run has been cut short and will end on May 30. The set is crammed with so much detail it takes thirsty eyes the best part of an hour to drink it all in.
The cast are ugly-beautiful, with inexplicable haircuts, while the lead, radical idealist romantic Melchior (Aneurin Barnard) comes across as kind, intelligent and a bit of a fast mover. His main appeal to the breathless, admiring young girls is that he doesn’t believe in anything.
His failing friend, Moritz (Iwan Rheon), whose eyes have sunk so deep into his head they are practically invisible, is a captivating superstar.
He manages the rock numbers with the ease of a indie band frontman, yet slips gently into musical narrative.
There are moments when he looks like he’d be more comfortable leaving his tormented life to front the rock band of his dreams.
Naive Wendla (Charlotte Wakefield) convinces as the young girl who still doesn’t know where babies come from – at the age of 14.
The stage keeps its classroom feel with the chorus and several audience members sitting on hard wooden seats on either side.
Jamie Blackley, as young gay teen Hanschen, in love with his classmate, steals the laughs with his impeccable timing and feline physical theatre.
Nuanced storylines, startling denouements and sympathetic characters keep the attention piqued throughout, only slightly let down by the damp squib final number, Purple Summer.
Nevertheless, Spring Awakening remains both shocking and funny, and it’s a great shame this production has died so young.
Until May 30
0844 482 5171 |
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