‘Spring Awakening’ is all that is promised in the programme notes and more. It’s a fairly new musical with a pedigree of ‘Tonys’ dating back to 2007 and was described as an electrifying fusion of rock music, morality and sexuality. It's based on a late 19th Century play that was still considered as depraved into the swinging sixties.
The cast are all young people from Gordonstoun School, playing characters in their mid-teens. The show deals in 80 minutes with more teenage issues than your average episode of ‘ Waterloo Road’ all set to music that, while it rocks at times, also has its quieter more thoughtful numbers. The cast create a credible image of its 19th century Germanic setting even if the music is bang up to date.
Initially I thought that the foot-stomping and choreography of the number ‘Touch Me’ belonged in the world of a music video, but later the foot-stomping played a very effective part in what was overall very creative direction by Nigel Williams.
Oscar Macdonald and Inanna Pinheiro-Gibsone give a very effective and tender performance as the rebel knowledgeable schoolboy meeting the naive girl whose mother has told her little about the facts of life. Tom Williams as the misfit captures the bewilderment of his characters about the transition to adulthood while Rob Luke play’s his gay character to understated perfection.
Ali Baxter and Millie Mountain handle all the adult parts with special mention of their roles as teachers. The ensemble is very good throughout well supported by a first class band.
Laura Barnes as Isle, the runaway catches the eye through delivering some of the best songs
If there is a message from this production it’s that teenage problems are not new and that Youth Theatre is alive and well at this year’s fringe.
Runs to 13 August, 13.30
Tickets: £5.50-£9.50