Theatre review: Renegade Arts Co's Spring Awakening brings musical's emotional journey up-close-and-personal
In intimate The Shop Theatre, strong performances and creative touches bring story of adolescence in late-19th-century Germany to vivid life
Renegade Arts Co presents Spring Awakening until June 10 at the Shop Theatre
SPRING AWAKENING IS a bold and daring Tony Award-winning musical about sexual discovery and adolescent struggles in Germany during the turn of the 19th century. But in addition to addressing these timeless themes, the show is also about challenging the cultural norms and restrictions set by older generations—something that resonates strongly these days, as Gen Z continues to rise up and question how things are done.
Renegade Arts Co’s production is exceptionally creative, infusing much more dance than the Broadway rendition. The result is a riveting effort that takes you on a powerful emotional journey, told sincerely by a cast of Gen Z performers.
Based on the 1891 play by Frank Wedekind, the musical version is set to contemporary rock-pop music by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by Steven Sater. Because of that style of music, the show isn’t meant to be seen as a period–accurate piece, making it relatable to today’s audiences and emphasizing the universal themes.
The story focuses on the precarious relationship between teenagers Wendla and Melchior, while also showing how adolescence affects their friends against the backdrop of a society with a strict moral code. The show is dark and doesn’t hold back—it deals with sexual abuse, parental pressure, mental health struggles, and death. But there’s also a lot of humour, as well as moments of highly satisfying, reckless abandonment in celebrating youth—the highlight being the electrifying “Totally F*cked”.
Director and choreographer Dawn Ewen’s imaginative vision is both thrilling and poignant, using contemporary dance and movement to seamlessly draw you into the fantasy world and thoughts of the teens. From rocking out to “The Bitch of Living”, performed by a group of boys in their school uniforms; to uncovering the kids’ discovery of sensuality in “My Junk” and “Touch Me”; to portraying the heavy subject matter of “The Dark I Know Well” using long red ribbon, Ewen has found creative ways to powerfully convey each number’s messaging.
This staging of Spring Awakening is an almost immersive experience, with the performers entering and exiting through the audience in The Shop Theatre’s intimate space. This is an up-close-and-personal viewing experience, with the performers often just inches away. And while the stage space is small, Ewen creates some engaging vignettes during the musical numbers. There are always interesting things happening, from a boy enthusiastically dancing on top of a piano as it’s being rolled around, to the use of a large, white sheet made to look like it’s floating in the air while performers run under it in a scene of youthful joy. These elements, as well as little touches like Melchior reading from a book with pages that light up, continually draw you into a dream-like world.
As Wendla, Nicole Laurent walks the line between courage and vulnerability, determined to question and challenge the status quo even though her character may not be ready for the consequences. A strong singer and dancer, she’s a petite figure with tremendous poise and heartbreaking authenticity. Stephen Myers makes for a great counterpart as Melchior, the kid who challenges the status quo the most in the community. Myers portrays Melchior with great confidence, and Laurent and Myer’s onstage relationship is tender and believable.
Gus Moutafis wonderfully embodies the troubled Moritz. He’s always a quirky mess, both in his appearance and thoughts, which adds both comic relief and plausibility to the school leadership’s animosity towards him. Rebecca Zanni is a standout as the bohemian Ilse. She offers a breath of fresh air in her light–hearted interactions with Mortiz and her delivery of “The Song of Purple Summer” provides the thoughtful, hopeful commentary needed in the show’s final number. Loughran MacLeod also helps to lighten the dark subject matter with his cheeky portrayal of Hanschen.
Sheik and Sater’s score sounds fantastic here, thanks to a strong five–piece band under the musical direction of Shawn Henry, and the cast. Because of how small the venue is, the lyrics and messaging really hit effectively, with the feel of the performers having direct conversations with you. And while there’s mature subject matter in the show, everything is handled with care; a sex scene is done far upstage, and some of the darkest actions happen either offstage or during blackout.
Amid the sad moments of this show, there’s also light. A queer love storyline is handled with beautiful sensitivity. And the final moments are powerfully uplifting. Spring Awakening is about tragedy just as much as it’s about youthful hope and the potential for new generations to better the world. It’s an important story to tell, and Renegade Arts Co’s production tells it with a fresh, authentic voice.
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