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Young Cast Do It Again
Spring Awakening
Newcastle Jubilee Theatre
Until Saturday 25th
March 2017
Book
& lyrics – Steven Sater
Music
– Duncan Sheik
Based
on the original play by Frank Wedekind
Second
Act Theatre return to Newcastle’s Jubilee Theatre with
another quality slice of musical theatre. The young cast reassemble to followup their previous successful production of Rent with the musical version of
Frank Wedikind’s Spring Awakening.
The
Jubilee Theatre is in the centre of St. Nicholas Hospital on Jubilee Road in
Gosforth. After turning at the traffic lights into the hospital grounds, drive
up to the clock tower. Go straight through reception and turn right at the
corridor and that takes you past the café to the theatre. Parking was free
where we parked in the hospital grounds after 5pm. Once again, our early
arrival enabled us to admire the magnificent proscenium arch with its Art
Nouveau Doulton tiles.
The
Wedikind play that the musical is based upon has been somewhat controversial
resulting in censoring and banning orders since it first hit the stage on in
1906. The themes of childhood in a German town in the late 19th
century mirror much of what has happened since. Children try to grow up too quick
without knowing the full facts whilst the adults complain how life is so
different and liberal nowadays compared to their own childhoods.
What
helps make the show feel fresh and relevant is the great score which ranges
from folk-style to rock standards. The
songs help develop the story and cut down on the unnecessary exposition. It
does sometimes look a little odd, however, when the ensemble gather and start
singing in chorus whilst the principle actors carry out intimate activities in
the centre of the stage.
The
story follows a group of innocent children that are getting to grips with the
change from child to adult. Being the 19th Century, they are
educated separately and their families are regular church goers who worry about
the neighbours might think.
Wendla
Bergmann (Rebecca Charlton) wants her mother (Frances Haigh) to explain the
facts of life but her mum fudges it leaving Wendla confused. Her friends, like
Martha (Rachael Bell), Ilse (Kiera Falcus), Anna (Ailsa Bennett and Thea
(Kristel Buckley) are equally clueless about boys and babies.
Across
at the local boys school Moritz (Jonny Hill) is struggling to keep up in class.
Fellow classmate Melchior (Ethan Lang) tries to defend him and gets a beating
off his teacher for his troubles. After class it appears some lads are more
clued up about girls than others.
The
story then explores many issues such as corporal punishment/child abuse, rape
and suicide along side puberty and surviving school and friendships. Having said that, whilst not trivialising any
issue, the show is not that heavy going!
The
large, talented ensemble, fill in as classmates and adults. They can sing and
when they do so together it creates a wonderful sound. The show features a wonderful group of live
musicians under musical director Jenni Watson too.
The
set design and projections by Stuart Bagnall both help keep the action flowing
without too many unnecessary breaks in the action. Frances Haigh’s costumes looked the part for
19th century Germany.
Director
Bobby Trotter and production director Barry Wilmott has produced a slick production
that shows it is possible to create a great musical production without
resorting to the usual pot boilers. A great cast have come together again to
pull off the telling of a 19th century story that feels highly
relevant in 2017. The Jubilee Theatre is well worth hunting down this week.
Review
by Stephen
Oliver.
Tickets:
The
show runs from Wednesday 22nd – Saturday 25th March at
Jubilee Theatre, St. Nicholas’ Hospital, Jubilee Road, Gosforth
Curtain
up at 7pm
Tickets
£8/£10 from www.secondacttheatre.com
(which also has details about finding the theatre.)
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