Going through life’s struggles - like questioning a capitalistic society, abusive parents, understanding sex, and making it through school - are tough enough. But how can you deal with these struggles if you don’t even know what to expect when they happen? The group of teenagers in SPRING AWAKENING go through these frustrations of lacking answers as they try to understand the changes and life happening around them.
Blank Theatre Short and Sweet Musical
Instead of the usual two hour musical, Blank Theatre’s production of SPRING AWAKENING tightens up the timing and keeps the show to about 100 minutes. Without an intermission and keeping the dialogue snappy, our focus stays on the major points of the story - confusing teenage hormones, fear of failure in school, rebelliousness, suicide, and an unexpected pregnancy.
Simplicity is Key
Upon entering the small, storefront Frontier theatre off the Thorndale stop, we see the stage is pure white with four musicians positioned on the back wall, ready for the start. As the story moves, the costumes, sets, and props are equally as minimalist. The actors aren’t wearing the school uniforms we might typically see in SPRING AWAKENING. Rather, they are in generic, modern day clothing taking us from 19th century Germany into an unspecified contemporary time and place. The most furniture onstage at any time are chairs, but we don’t need much more to give us a sense of what’s happening.
This simplicity works much to this writer’s delight. It keeps us focused on the music and the growth of our teenage characters. There are a few moments where the intimate nature works against the cast when a scene feels like it calls for more - like when the stage felt too small for the full company during energetic and angsty songs like “Totally Fucked” where their movements feel restrained when they want to explode and be uncontained. But otherwise, our attention is held by our cast.
Leads Tackle the Brunt of the Issues
Haley Bolithon and Jeremiah Alsop, playing Wendla and Melchior, have crystal clear voices that fill the theatre and yet are not so overpowering that we lose the intimacy in the small space. Accompanied by Sam Shankman as Mortiz to round out the leading trio, the three capture the confidence, naivety, anxiety, and moodiness of teenagers in their performances.
Blank Theatre’s production of SPRING AWAKENING is a good fit for anyone who loves the musical and wants to experience it in an intimate setting. It’s also a good pick for those who like contemporary and rock musicals in general. It might not be the best fit for those who aren’t a fan of teenage moodiness or prefer classical musicals.
RECOMMENDED
Note: This is now added to the Picture this Post round up of BEST PLAYS IN CHICAGO, where it will remain until the end of the run. Click here to read – Top Picks for Theater in Chicago NOW – Chicago Plays PICTURE THIS POST Loves.
CAST:
Haley Bolithon
Jeremiah Alsop
Sam Shankman
Claire Latourette
Dustin Rothbart
Bryce Ancil
Adam Brody
Molly Coleman
Chase Heinemann
Cari Meixner
Lisa Savegnago
Tiffany T. Taylor
Mike Weaver
Jonah Cochin
Kristina Plumb
CREATIVE
Danny Kapinos
Tyler Miles
Britta Lynn Schlicht
Shelbi Arndt
David Lundholm
Zak Payne
Brian Plocharczyk
When
Now through September 30th
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00p
Sundays at 3:00p
Where
The Frontier
1106 W Thorndale Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
Note: An excerpt of this review appears in Theatre in Chicago
About the Author
Alexis is a theater reviewer, travel bug, media specialist, and burger & beer enthusiast. During the day she works in the advertising business as a senior communications designer. When night falls, or when she can escape to New York, she’s hitting the theaters to see as many shows as she can. And whenever she’s not at her desk or in the audience, she’s out seeking the best burger and beer offerings in Chicago.
Editor's Note: Click here to read more Picture this Post articles by Alexis Bugajski
