SPRING AWAKENING @ the Crescent Theatre

This daring production is still young in the world of musical theatre, smashing Broadway in 2006 with Glee’s Michelle Lea as the female lead; Wendla and coming to London’s West End two years later for ten week stint. The show tells of the struggle of adolescence amongst a group of teenagers in late 19th Century Germany facing pressure from parents academically and essentially struggling to come to terms with the sexual awakening they are experiencing. It is brought dramatically into the present through its modern day language, rock music, set up of hand held microphones and the rock band on stage, thus providing an effective outlet for the rebellion of these frustrated youths. Birmingham School of Acting’s production reproduced these elements spectacularly resulting in an energetic performance with impressive vocals from the two principal actors and as one would expect of a drama school; good acting throughout the rest of the small cast! The set was extremely innovative in its simplicity and use of stage and audience space, as was the choreography. The gymnastic talents of a few members of the male cast were shown off in a few scenes adding further to the modern twist, performed with a consistent adherence to timing and space, resulting in energy filled scenes that captivated the audience. Overall the production seemed to convey the right emotions and effects, being hilariously funny at times, drastically explicit both physically and emotionally at others, but maintaining a dark tone throughout this tragic yet profoundly moral story.