Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
ILoveWicked330
Broadway Star Joined: 2/7/05
#1Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 6:15pm
All my friends have been screaming about how amazing the show is. I know atleast 10 people who have seen it 5+ times. So, I decided to go see it today & I was really let down.
I think it didn't deserve the Broadway trasfer.
The score was really boring. I'm sorry, but I didn't like it. It was just boring. No excitment in the music, no "cute" love songs that make you cry, etc. It was just "oh".
The book wasn't that great. I mean, I don't really know how to judge a book, but just something didn't "connect" for me.
The good things of the show were all the actors. Everyone did a great job.
I don't know why, but just everyone doesn't stop talking about at my school "OMG spring awakening" & now that I saw it, I just feel like "oh i saw it. great".
Did I maybe miss something from the show?
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#2re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 6:20pm
I loved the music and the actors. And the design.
That's pretty much it.
A big let down - like most other things I hear people talking about.
Updated On: 1/7/07 at 06:20 PM
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#2re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 6:23pmI haven't seen the show yet, and I will because people keep saying this is something like this generation's musical. But the score is boring boring boring...I'm hoping it will come to live in the theatre more...maybe with some context.
purpleprince101
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#3re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 6:23pmoverrated but the music is good
#4re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 6:27pmThis show is not overrated in any way. On the contrary, it is fantastic in every way.
#5re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 6:40pm
Search for my review of the show on this forum. I think it might better word your feelings - I get what you mean.
Post here how you feel about the show in the coming days.
Immediately after I saw it, I called it overrated. But it HAUNTS you. It's not "perfect" by any means, there are some flaws that should continue to be worked on. Other than that, it's brilliant.
See is SPRING AWAKENING haunts your dreams, too...
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#6re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 6:41pmWith the amount of hype that surrounds this musical it is inevitable that it will fall flat for many people. I did feel that certain things in the show were over hyped. I found the score to be wonderful, but the lyrics to be very "forced." Lea Michele was so hyped up and I found her to be very talented, but the “little girl” act didn't grab me. I felt no sympathy for Melchior or Wendla, and preferred the subplots to the main plot, although most of the subplots were not fully developed. Ilsa in particular, she just pops up out of the blue.
#7re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 6:44pmI liked it and was glad I caught it, but I didn't think it was phenomenal or anything. The songs actually interested me the least. The acting was very good, and some of the voices were beautiful. I don't think I'll be rushing back to see it anytime soon.
BroadwayBoobs: I'll give all of you who weren't there a hint of who took the pictures ...it rhymes with shameless
SOMMS: I knew it was Tink!
neddyfrank2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
#8re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 6:45pmI didn't enjoy it, and neither did half of my row who didn't join me for Act Two.
#9re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 6:46pm
It's an okay show, but it's nothing special, and certainly not as good as people are saying it is. Charles Isherwood's comments about the show are particularly hyperbolic. The music, while fine, isn't overly theatrical, and the songs don't really aid at all in telling the story.
The cast, for the most part, is solid. I love Lauren Pritchard and John Gallagher, Jr.; liked Lea Michele a lot (her acting isn't anything amazing, but that voice more than makes up for it); hated Jonathan Groff and Jonathan Wright.
An entirely mixed bag.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#10re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 6:46pmI believe it was either David Cote or Patrick Pacheco on NY1 who said it best....something to the effect of "let's hope the unanimously positive reviews don't make people walk out saying "that was it?""
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#11re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 6:52pmI saw it in previews at the Atlantic before any kind of hype had begun (no one even knew what it was) and while I liked the cast, the design and some of the score, I found other aspects flawed and underrealized (and had basically the same opinion after seeing it again after the Broadway opening). It's a promising work that's worth seeing, but I found myself liking the idea of it, more than how it was actually executed. It deserves to be supported (and I look forward to seeing what Sheik comes up with next for the musical theatre), but, for me at least, it was hardly the brilliant, groundbreaking work that some have claimed it to be.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#12re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 6:58pm
I believe I saw a video interview with Sheik where he admitted he had no idea what he was doing in writing a musical. I wonder how in the creative process what Sheik's contribution was and what Michael Mayer's contributon was...
I also look forward to Mayer's THE PINK FLAMINGO with music by Henry Krieger.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#13re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 7:02pm
I've said so in other threads, but I think that the musical is entertaining but overall lacking in emotional impact. I saw it in previews, so I didn't have extraordinary expectations that were let down, either.
Updated On: 1/7/07 at 07:02 PM
#14re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 7:12pm
I've said this before, but while I really enjoy the CD and appreciated the performances during the show, it fell so emotionally flat for me that I was literally shocked when I saw other people crying.
I figured it was my own personal problem, but it really did nothing for me. I didn't hate it, I just didn't like it.
Now what would you say if today I started over?
Without a thing but this taped together four leaf clover
And I'll pretend like everything is already alright
And I'll run toward the sun till the castle's out of sight
gman07
Stand-by Joined: 12/22/06
#15re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 7:23pm
I loved it!
In particular, Jonathan Groff & Jonathan Wright were terriffic.
Updated On: 1/7/07 at 07:23 PM
#16re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 7:26pmi loved it, dont hate on sa........ although i know one or two ppl who didnt love it
Can, can I have it?
#17re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 7:27pmno, you are not the only one who did not enjoy it. i, for one, will definitely not be making a return trip to the Eugene O'Neil any time soon.
#18re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 7:32pmI really love the show. Obviously not everyone is going to like it.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#19re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 7:33pm
No matter how good a show is, it will not appeal to all. This is the nature of the beast
I am still trying to find out why Lestat got panned along with BFO. The same goes for In My Life & any Wildhorn musical
Poster Emeritus
educator06
Stand-by Joined: 11/21/06
#20re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 7:38pmThat is what makes this world so cool. If everyone thought alike, it would be a pretty boring place. I happen to like SA a great deal, as do allot of other people. Of course there will be those who do not like it for one reason or another and that's o.k. I personally thought Gray Gardens was boring, but that doesn’t mean it is not good. I just didn't care for it.
snl89
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/05
#21re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 7:45pm
yeah, naturally, not EVERYONE can love any one show :)
I've said this before in other threads,but it DOES surprise me how the biggest thing I've heard against it is that people just didn't feel anything from it. Which is obviously completely fine, its just, its so opposite from how I was. I'm just amazed that aaalmost everyone who I've talked to/heard from that's seen the show seems to have really enjoyed the music and the performances, but that it was boring. I guess maybe you either really connect with the story/characters or you dont at all :)
Immediately after I saw it, I called it overrated. But it HAUNTS you. It's not "perfect" by any means, there are some flaws that should continue to be worked on. Other than that, it's brilliant.
See is SPRING AWAKENING haunts your dreams, too...
that actually describes it PERFECTLY!! It almost doesn't hit you until AFTER the show is done, and you go home and you realize you can't stop thinking about it. That was how it was for me anyway. I mean I felt a lot of emotion DURRING the show too, but its just... I dont know, I think it takes a little while for the ending to really sink in because it all kind of happens so fast
I don't need a life that's normal. That's way too far away. But something next to normal would be okay. Something next to normal is what I'd like to try. Close enough to normal to get by.
Updated On: 1/7/07 at 07:45 PM
#22re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 7:48pmI really, really liked it. I'm am not obsessing over it but I thought it was a great show. There were many flaws and I can see it not apealing to everyone.
#23re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 7:51pmPeople saying they didn't connect doesn't mean they found it boring. Huge difference there. I felt nothing for the characters and therefore felt emotionally isolated from the show, but I was never once bored. The music and the musical performances, for me, was what kept the show exhilirating and fresh and in the end held my attention.
I recognize the addiction to being alive.
Lizzya9
Broadway Star Joined: 10/14/06
#24re: Am I the only one that didn't enjoy Spring Awakening?
Posted: 1/7/07 at 7:54pmI bought the cast recording because I heard such great things about it and I was really dissapointed. It's pretty much all slow ballads, except for a few. The main part of musicals and Broadway that I like are those jazz-hands, kick-line type of numbers, and SA just doesn't have one of those. Even though I haven't seen the show I really don't think it deserved the Broadway transfer either. It's too indie and not mainstream enough to be on Broadway. I mean I know I have to see the acting and stuff like that but in a Broadway MUSICAL, that being the key word, the music is the most important part. And it just doesn't have the "umph" other Broadway scores have. Not that all Broadway tunes have to be jazzy, but at least less than 50% ballads and people whispering. Not to pun the song of that title, but really, most of the songs are whispered in SA. It's kind of annoying.
