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Spring Awakening Reviews
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| 31 |
A good time, but a bit overrated. Review by: justaguy, Jun 19, 2008 |
The set, lighting and choreography are top-notch. Otherwise, the actors shout their lines and sing awkward rock songs. The young cast acts their hearts out, which left little room for subtlety. What little character development there is, is lost for the sake of just moving the story along. I had a problem with the odd placement of certain songs... slow ones were a bit overlong, and crowd-pleasers that were too short. Also, why were the gay ... read more characters played for comic relief? For such a 'progressive' show, this seemed a little regressive to me.
The ending was almost laughable with its bluntness. Don't get me wrong... its probably the best musical of our times. It only makes me wish for better times. |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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| 32 |
Not as great as everyone says... just but the cast recording Review by: , Jun 15, 2008 |
| Like this year's In the Heights, this tony award winner just doesn't deliver. Its all around mediocre at best. I will say that Duncan Sheik's score is wonderful. I knew the songs before I saw the show and I expected the show to make the songs better and fill in some loose ends, but it never did. It was like watching a concert of the music. Nothing makes sense unless you real the frank wedel play which is far far better! |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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Romantic Date, Adults
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| 33 |
Waste of time and money Review by: kel hou, Jun 9, 2008 |
| Spring Awakening was almost the worst Broadway show I have even, second only to Lestat. I can not believe the critical acclaim and awards it has won. The story was so atrocious, it was laugh out loud funny at times. There were no poignant numbers. I do not know why the creative team thought it was necessary to incorporate every aspect of teen angst into one show: loosing virginity, abortion, death, suicide, homosexuality, incest, bullying, ... read more mean teachers/parents and the list could go on. It was ridiculous. The incest song had no relation to the show-I can not figure out why it was part of the show. The acting was very amateurish/overacted. Obviously much of the cast were not professionals (kids) in some performing arts high school and it should have been a senior show or at the maximum, off off Broadway. I felt the $77 ticket price was the biggest rip off I have experienced in the theatre in a long time. Save you money and time and see something else. It did provide long discussions over dim sum after the show. Every person in our party hated it. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 34 |
Review by: Elizabeth, Jun 7, 2008 |
This was a very good show. If you are close-minded in any way, or feel very uncomfortable handling "touchy" subject matter, this show might not work for you. As a teenager, this show represents a lot of things we go through. We are all those awkward teenagers trying to find ourselves in a world that deems us as having too much angst. I thought the story really reached out to those they are targeting, which is teenagers. I also feel that this ... read more show should be seen by adults, because it can help them better understand some things teens go through. I saw it with my mom, and she loved it. Yes, she felt a tad bit uncomfortable at times since we were onstage, but she overall really enjoyed it.
The music in this show is amazing and beautiful. The energy by the entire cast was also good. I had two understudies and they were also very good.
Go see the show. It is VERY different for a Broadway show. It is not fluffy, but dark. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 35 |
IT WAS AMAZING Review by: lady di, May 4, 2008 |
| I LOVE THIS. THE STORY WAS GREAT, THE MUSIC AND SINGING AMAZING. DEFINATELY SEE THIS, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 36 |
Don't let your son on the stage Mrs. Worthington. Review by: MSMiller in NYC, Apr 29, 2008 |
I liked SOME of Bill T. Jones choreography and the lighting was inventive. Otherwise--what was all the hype about last season!?! The music was redundant garage-band; the performers were straight out of a school showcase; the lyrics were trite; and the book was . . . well . . . they seem to have lost the book sometime before the first read through. I couldn't recall one character's name, one meaningful relationship, or one melody from that show 2 ... read more minutes after I left the theater.
And worst of all, for a show that was clearly meant to be a critique of the abuse and exploitation of young people, it was the most abusive and exploitative treatment of young people I have seen on the stage. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 37 |
Here's another on the single-star end of the spectrum.... Review by: RobClifford, Apr 28, 2008 |
Okay, some background: our group was 40-something gay guys, my sister, and our 20-something nieces. We knew nothing about this show except that it won so many Tony Awards, and we hoped that it might be something that our mature nieces and we older guys (who like to consider ourselves youthful) could all potentially get something out of.
Unfortunately, what we (all SIX of us) did agree completely on is what a disappointment Spring Awakening ... read more was, and we found ourselves bonding and even enjoying our shared criticisms of the show over cocktails afterwards. I'm a sucker for angst and the drama of youth, but it was comical the way the creators stuffed every crappy thing that could possibly happen to an adolescent into one show with a musical score that seemed to be either at zero or sixty (with nothing in between). We also all challenged each other to hum ONE tune which was memorable or distinctive, and again, were unified in our inability to do even that.
I swear we had no preconceptions, and we still have no bone to pick. It's simply baffling to all in our group what it is that everyone is raving about when it comes to this show. AND, I can't believe it when I read a review which says that this show -- finally -- has successfully brought contemporary/rock music to Broadway. Haven't they seen Rent?!? Brilliance, angst/pain, and tunes you not only hum but can sing along to because of the relevance of their lyrics and the story they tell.
While I did like the idea of the cast entering and exiting from seats at each side of the stage, the two additional "cast members" in contemporary clothing (ostensibly audience members, just like us, who wanted to rock out with the cast?!), was dumb and I was embarrassed for them. The nervous glances from the real audience members who either mistakenly or stupidly got those seats was another source of amusement that I don't believe the creators intended. That, and the "Totally F*ed" number ending with all the cast members freeze-framing as they flipped the bird, earnest looks on their faces. Oh, people.
Again, sorry, this is not personal. I just want to warn the friends/family who feel this experience might be in the cards for them, so they can get tix to something good. Or maybe this'll make you want to go so you can have a laugh about how ripped off you all feel after the show, like we did.
Made us all eager for our next theater weekend though..... |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 38 |
Still a beautiful show that moves me each time. Review by: Dramamama, Apr 26, 2008 |
I have just seen this show for the 9th time. Am I bit obsessed? Sure.
As a regular theater goer, and as someone that works with hs students every day, this show has a lot to think about. Since it is indeed a coming of age story, of course a lot of it is about sex. Does it take the problems of ANY generations youth and exxagerate them...of course.
This show is certainly NOT for everyone. While the lighting is spectacular, it is ... read more not a flashy sets or costumes show. While there are some amusing moments, it is not a comedy. There is no traditional dancing, yet the Tony Award winning choreography is incredibly beautiful and perfectly reflects the intent of the show.
Some of the original cast has now left and so far, each has been replaced with excellent choices. Blake Bashoff (replacing John Gallagher, Jr), Emma Hunton (replacing Lauren Pritchard) and Blake Daniel (replacing Gideon Glick) are all remarkable and have made the roles truly thier own. In a few more weeks the two leads are moving on, but I am confident that the producers will make(or have made) continuted outstanding choices.
The music is raw and beautiful. And unlike traditional musicals, all the music are rather like inner monologues and give us insight to the plight of their stories.
I do NOT reccommend this for children under the age of 14 to see this...and it may not be appropriate for some of that age: it definitly deals with mature themes and has some graphic (yet entirely appropriate) sex scenes and some nudity. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
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| 39 |
Outstanding music by a talented cast Review by: AES, Apr 15, 2008 |
| This show has outstanding music sung by talented performers. The storyline is compelling and this show is for mature audiences due to its subject matter. I can see why this won the Tony for Best Musical and am surprised that the male and female leads did not win Tonys for their roles. The staging is different - sort of like Rent meets Les Miz - and that is an observation, not a criticism. Very enjoyable! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Alone
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| 40 |
Not for everyone Review by: TravelerGal, Apr 14, 2008 |
We wanted to see this musical based on the recommendation of a friend who raved about it and also since it won several Tony awards, we figured it would be fantastic. We were totally wrong.
We are a young couple, late-20s to early-30s. We love live theatre and music of all kinds and consider ourselves extremely open-minded since the last show we saw was "Evil Dead - The Musical", which we loved!
After the first three numbers, we ... read more were ready to leave the theatre, and lord help you if you are seeing this musical with your parents, in-laws, grandparents, older aunts and uncles, etc because it will be the most uncomfortable ride home. Also, there is mild nudity so it may not be appropriate for young children.
The themes range from child and sexual abuse, incest, unprotected sex, suicide, teenage pregnancy and abortion. It was like watching an afterschool special go horribly wrong! The themes were dealt with in a very cliche kind of way. The acting was somewhat amateur-ish and at some points, I felt like I watching scenes from a high school talent show.
We thought the band was great but the musical numbers extremely boring and wordy.
If you're a fan of happy, cheerful, light musicals, this show is not for you.
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
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| 41 |
Not to be missed! Review by: , Apr 5, 2008 |
While this show is not for everyone, I found it to be a wonderful, moving, exciting, and incredible show. I have seen it twice and hope to see it again! If you are comfortable with sexuality and love music- this show is not to be missed. I think it could appeal to many people. While it may seem that it would appeal only to young adults or older adolescents, I am a middle aged psychologist who is still singing along with the songs in my ... read more car. Go see it! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 42 |
MOST AMAZING SHOW EVER! Review by: xwowxcubxscottx, Mar 31, 2008 |
| This show was amazing! The music and acting was amazing. I have went to a couple of Broadway show but this was def. the best! I am a kid myself and i loved it but it was a little much, more for adults! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Family
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Adults
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| 43 |
Review by: , Mar 24, 2008 |
Where are Lia Michele and Jonathan Groff going after May? |
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| 44 |
Review by: , Mar 23, 2008 |
| I saw Spring Awakeing on March 22th and absolutely loved it. It's a must see. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Family
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Recommended for:
Anyone
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| 45 |
This is a BROADWAY MUSICAL? Review by: MickeyBoy7, Mar 21, 2008 |
| Embarrassing, boring, disturbing and a waste of your entertainment dollar. Oh for the days of Hello Dolly, The Music Man, etc. Jerry Herman, David Merrick, Oscar Hammerstein...Oh how I miss you. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
Large Group
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| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
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