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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2016 22:18:30 GMT
Hi guys! I just thought I would make this thread as I was unsure where else I may post this. My drama group was initially going to do an original piece for our end-of-year show, but unfortunately due to bad attendance throughout the year by certain members we had to drop that idea and several previously made scripts were suggested to us. One of these was Spring Awakening. I have seen the musical of this show and I understand quite a bit of the plot is similar if not the same? I thoroughly enjoy the musical but am unsure if the music clouds my judgement on the quality of the story itself. Has anyone seen a performance of Spring Awakening (the play) and if so what were your thoughts on it? We're a group ranging in ages from late 16's to early 20's and we believe that about 15 of us can commit fully to the show. Really I am asking would it be worthwhile for us to pursue this show taking into account our ages and numbers, as well as is the play a good choice for us to perform regarding it's quality and how well it's come across on stage. The area we will be performing is rather small and intimate. I am also assuming due to how much of the play is controversial that is would be heavily censored, so does the play go to stage well with their being potential censorship? Thank you all very much in advance  (Any tips regarding how to pull this off would be warmly welcomed!) |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2016 22:49:19 GMT
If you were asked to censor it I'd say definitely don't do it. One of the messages of the play is that hiding reality from young people is dangerous and you'd be going against that by cutting things out that weren't acceptable to the powers that be. As for the play, I liked Anya Reiss's version very much, it's well worth a read as a comparison to the original.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2016 5:27:17 GMT
I am also assuming due to how much of the play is controversial that is would be heavily censored If you're talking about censoring it yourselves, don't. If the owners of the show get wind of it they'll shut you down on the spot, even in the middle of a performance. |
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Post by talkstageytome on Mar 14, 2016 8:44:28 GMT
I am also assuming due to how much of the play is controversial that is would be heavily censored, so does the play go to stage well with their being potential censorship? Thank you all very much in advance (Any tips regarding how to pull this off would be warmly welcomed!) I think perhaps you are talking about how the play was received in the past. The play script will not have been censored, so what is written in there should be all the original text. It was in the past, when sensibilities were much stricter that this play was censored, and in fact, was not allowed to be performed at all for quite a few years. Audiences today are much more tolerant to shocking images / themes on stage (on the whole) and so given the ages of people in your group I can't imagine there would be a problem with you performing the play as it is written at all. To echo what's been said though, don't try and cut and change the text yourself because that will get you shut down. |
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Post by mallardo on Mar 14, 2016 9:14:26 GMT
The play itself is in the public domain so it depends upon what translation is used for the legal issue to be relevant. But if there are 16 year old cast members I'm thinking a play that includes a graphic rape scene and a group masturbation scene might have to be trimmed a bit - or very carefully directed.
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Post by talkstageytome on Mar 14, 2016 9:26:37 GMT
I think direction is the key here. I was part of the premier of a pretty vile play, aged 16, (and because it was the premier, I had no idea what I was in for, despite having been given sides and a synopsis before being cast, so it was even more shocking when I finally read the script in full. But the direction was so brilliant, and the rehearsal process was so calm and relaxed that we managed to keep the integrity of the play, without traumatising any of the cast members (although at 16 I was one of the youngest cast members by far, and much of the cast was much older). That's probably the key here I'd say, that and a warning on any advertising material that the play will feature shocking themes so that people are pre-warned.
Really though, what you need to do is read the text in full with your group and decide yourselves whether it's for you or not, as some people may be less comfortable with these themes (understandably).
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Post by partytentdown on Nov 24, 2019 20:49:15 GMT
I'm not sure how well known this is, but the Almeida are planning a production of this (I'm assuming the non musical version)
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 24, 2019 21:11:35 GMT
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Post by joem on Nov 26, 2019 23:18:46 GMT
I'm not sure how well known this is, but the Almeida are planning a production of this (I'm assuming the non musical version) I acted in this years ago and have so far managed to miss seeing any professional productions of it. So I'll make a huge effort to see this. |
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(Any tips regarding how to pull this off would be warmly welcomed!) 
