Spring Awakens at 5th Avenue Theatre

Lauren Drake and Ciara Alyse Harris in Spring Awakening (Mark Kitaoka)

Spring Awakening
5^th Avenue Theatre
Through June 30, 2024
 
This is the third time I have seen Spring Awakening on stage. I saw the initial Broadway touring show in 2007, an iconic and much better (than the touring show) version by Balagan Theatre in 2012 that is remembered for a compelling performance by Jinkx Monsoon (just before she became Jinkx Monsoon) and included cast members Diana Huey and Solea Pfeiffer, and now this one at the 5^th.
 
The best part of this musical is the songs and this cast has killer pipes! The harmonies are sweet and there are some standout performers among a pretty cool cast. Two singers new to me are Ciara Alyse Harris and Lauren Drake, both of whom I would love to see/hear more of.

Awakening sexuality (the “Spring” part) in young teens is the focus of this rock opera about repressed German students. It’s explicitly about how a lack of information can even go so far as to kill you. Both Frank Wedekind’s 19^th century play and the musical also touch on child abuse, incest, hetero- or homosexual preference or confusion, and how the hormones can so preoccupy youth that they can barely think straight.

(Mark Kitaoka)

Caitlin Sarwono as Wendla does a nice job as a shy teen who knows storks don’t actually bring babies, but in fact no better information. Ricky Spaulding as Melchoir has a strong voice but skews a little too old and knowledgeable for a boy who has some facts at his disposal but is still a virgin. There is no uncertainty in his acting choices, nor excitement or glee at sharing his knowledge of sex with his schoolmates.
 
Dedra D. Woods is having a great year after starring in Fat Ham and wowing us with her sassy character, and here she plays all the adult women and displays a great range, both steely and humorous.
 
The production choices are a bit over-the-top for me in terms of just how much of a sexual display is made, mostly in the choreography of songs. Yes, they’re masturbating, we get it. Also, the set arrangement of a large, lit platform with side areas where the actors sit works well to focus the energy, but the large, bare, tree branch stuck through the ceiling didn’t read “spring” at all.
 
The story arc didn’t quite fulfill the script needs, so the last section leading toward the last song (The Song of Purple Summer) didn’t clearly display what was happening emotionally and seemed more like staring into the audience demanding understanding.
 
So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, but since the singing is so good, it’s still highly recommended.
 
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