Somethings are Slow to Change

Every once in awhile you see something that will haunt your existence for good or bad.  Last night I saw Spring Awakening at Kingsbury Hall.  I have not been able to get this show out of my head.  It was a truly fresh and amazing experience.  It was here in Utah for a limited three show engagement.  I was surprised by the  fact the theatre was not sold out.  It has a rockus sound track that is raw and edgy and beautiful all at the same time.  It was this show that launched Lea Michele's (Glee) career.

The show explores 'coming of age' at the end of the 19th century in Germany.  This original play by Frank Wedekind was written between 1891 and 1900.  It has long been a censored and banned play because of its frank discussion of teen sexuality and the consequences of of ignoring their natural curiosity and failing to provide them with the information they need to make good choices.  


Spring Awakening was updated and set to music by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik.  It boldly deals with all aspects of teen life and sexuality from the pressures that school brings added with the awakening of sexual desire.  This show touches on all of it from masturbation, academic pressures, sex in the religious context, sexual and physical abuse, homosexuality, sex for the first time and teen pregnancy.  The musical is largely a tragedy displaying the effects of ignorance, piety and ambition on our youth.  The devices of language, simulated masturbation and nudity are boldly appropriately integrated in this production.


The Wikipedia article does a good job of summarizing the plot

For me this show is a mirrored representation of the culture we all still live in with little progress on the public discussion of how we educate our children about sex and it consequences.  I saw this show with my wife and my 20 year-old daughter.  During intermission she told me, "Dad theses are the conversations we have today."  Unfortunately the topic will keep the pious and fundamentally inclined away from the production and if they were to see it the open representation of our culture will prevent them from hearing the message.  For parents the message is: When we deny our children information and understanding on the topic of sex it leads to disaster and we are ultimately responsible for the tragedy that results.