Spring Awakening

If this production of Spring Awakening is anything to go by, it’s clear that Millennial Productions know exactly what they want and how to execute it to perfection. 

So, what’s it about? Spring Awakening is a rock musical with music by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by Steven Sater. Based on the 1891 German play of the same name by Frank Wedekind, the story explores the struggles of teenage self-discovery and the challenges of growing up in a repressed society. 

The theatre opens to a blank canvas stage setting with a hand-crafted wooden tree illuminated by small bulbs and pallet style tiered staging. The simplistic set was the perfect design to complement the performance with proof that sometimes less is more! Director Taylor Andrews, Musical Director Eliza De Castro & Choreographer Lauren Bensted took the audience on an emotional roller coaster throughout the two-hour musical. With its sensitive subject matter such as homosexuality, abortions, open conversations about sex, religion, teen pregnancy, sexual abuse and how these issues are still relevant today, the musical did not shy away from what could be difficult dialogues; rather, it presented them as crucial.

At a German boarding school, Melchior (Damien Quick) is at the epicentre of his best friend Moritz (AJ Betts) and his love interest Wendla's (Nykita O’Keefe) problems. Moritz is failing at school because they are haunted by sensual dreams which they don’t understand. The more knowledgeable Melchior illustrates a how-to manual (complete with pictures) for his sexually repressed friend. Later, when the innocent Wendla asks Melchior to share his knowledge with her, he offers her the experience first-hand.

Melchior’s "help" backfires in the second act. His journal is found among the belongings of Moritz after they commit suicide and Moritz is expelled. While he is away at reform school, he learns his lesson with Wendla resulted in a pregnancy and other complications.

What makes the show work is the chemistry of the cast. O’Keefe’s innocence and Quick’s worldly knowledge makes the pair a convincing couple. Their harmony in songs like "The Word of Your Body" is palatable and the heat they generate in their love scene makes the audience squirm uncomfortably in their seats.

AJ Betts nails down the complicated Moritz and their powerful rendition of "I Don't Do Sadness" in the second act is one of the show's many highlights. In a production like Spring Awakening, where the success of the show relies heavily on the execution of the score, Betts performed with integrity and grit making it a truly unforgettable performance of an extremely complicated character. 

With this production, it would be impossible not to call-out the incredible ensemble that played multiple roles, executed complex harmonies with perfection and supported the heavy narrative with conviction. Rae Rose, Liv Hutchins, Kate Coleman, Kristin Sparks, Ella Jackson, Ally Hickey and Mickael Bobart were the perfect ensemble surrounding Wendla’s character – each of them provided the perfect balance of heavenly vocals and effortless diversity in their roles. 

William Chen, Chris Drummond, Jackson Hughesman, Kaitlin Evans, Elliot Daniel Gough and Aidan Cobb took the roles of Melchior’s peers and ran with it – each delivering the empathy and emotion you don’t expect (but need) from their scenes! Emily Rohweder & Caleb Holman float effortlessly through diverse parts from the grieving parents to the manipulative schoolmasters – ultimately responsible for the poignant points of the show. 

If there is one thing this rendition of Spring Awakening can share with the Brisbane Theatre community, it’s that sometimes being the new kid on the block is exactly what’s needed to execute a production of this magnitude to perfection.

Mel Newton

Images: Clear Image Photography