Spring Awakening

From November 2010

When Frank Wedekind's play about sexual repression was first performed in 1906 it must have caused a sensation. With scenes of (in alphabetical order) abortion, flagellation, homosexuality, masturbation, suicide & underage sex its ability to shock has not diminished over 100 years later. Not laugh-out-loud funny then, but strangely not without humour.

The overarching themes of the play are the hypocrisy of the way that children were brought up in ignorance of sex and the soul-destroying system of school education that existed at the time of the play's writing ~ All this education and absolutely no knowledge. Of course on both counts matters have changed greatly but it's ironic that The Traverse advertises the play as being suitable for over 14s only. Philip Larkin nailed it with This Be The Verse:

They fuck you up, your mum and dad
They may not mean to, but they do
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you

This production adapted by Douglas Maxwell & performed by Grid Iron is set in a huge schoolroom with chalk & blackboards used by the cast to create props and the desks turning into a pack of wolves. The staging almost steals the show but Kirsty Stuart as Wendla is quite superb, managing to capture the confusion of being a 14 year old.

A special mention to the gentleman in the row behind me who on returning to the auditorium during the burial of Moritz managed to slam the door, trip over a seat and step on a plastic beer glass. Nice touch, a career in the SAS beckons.

Spring Awakening, Traverse Theatre, until 13th November