SPRING AWAKENING. At Theatre on the Bay in Cape Town and Montecasino in Johannesburg. RAFIEK MAMMON reviews.
Spring Awakening is in many ways not just an awakening for the cast with its very relevant, very needed, quite heady subject matter. It is also an awakening for the audience. It awakens you to what it wants to say, but moreover, it is in the how it does it that enthralls.
It is an awakening of the senses: an awakening of welcome, fresh songs that are quite different to the usual fare out there with respect to musicals. It awakens you to what one can do on a small stage with so little, and yet give so much.
That is director, Sylvaine Strike striking again. But that is also the cast of young talents that hold this experience together. More about them later… and, that is the work of a team of dedicated people.
People like Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander and their prowess since they started LAMTA (the Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy) six years ago. They have proven again and again that their hard work and devotion to the world of musical theatre is undisputable.
Here’s the thing – we know many musicals all too well. We see them over and over when producers and impresarios decide (for us) which ones they wish to revive. And we go see them, praise them even, for their brilliance and for the fact that they have stood the test of time. We eagerly look to see what stars from screen and stage have been cast. Who will be playing the lead roles or reprising their roles since the last time it was in town.
The old, new and in between
We sing along happily to the tunes that have reverberated in our ears for decades and we love it… why? Because we love that which is familiar. It is called the proverbial comfort zone. And that is all good and well. But, then a production like Spring Awakening comes along and one almost feels like producers have been neglectful in their responsibilities, holding out on us: yet another awakening! Fortunately, theatre has a place for everyone – the old, the new and in between!
Whether you see this production for its immaculate direction, or its flawless stage design or, that it boasts a cast of names that we do not know, does not matter. The bottom line is – see this production. See these future musical theatre stars now!
Even as I write, the goose bumps are renewed. And, even as I write, I am disinclined to call them “future” stars. They are stars right now…each of these young talents are musical theatre stars that can be cast in any of the big musicals and hold their own. I want to single out a few of the leads. Actually, I am not going to. This is an ensemble success if ever I saw one. Well done on a production that could tour anywhere in the world and keep South Africa’s flag flying high.
Note: note that the production revolves around mature themes, and contains partial nudity and explicit language. No persons under 13.
What: Spring Awakening
Where and when: Theatre on the Bay until 6 April 2024, Pieter Toerien’s Theatre at Montecasino from 12 April 2024
Tickets: Webtickets
WS
