Spring Awakening

SPRING AWAKENING is a very timely piece to produce as the US is caught up in a growing wave of neo-conservatism. Brimming with themes just as relevant in today's repressed society as it was in 1906 Germany, I can see why it was considered scandalous. Lonesome No More does an outstanding job in bringing this piece to life with a vibrant, youthful energy and passion. Daring and edgy, the cast takes you on a ride as you witness the painful loss of innocence, made all the more tragic because of the older generation's fear and shame of their own human nature. Don't miss this show.... full review

This was a refreshing, troubling,sweet, sad and poignant production that was executed with beautiful flourish by all the artists involved. The play could have easily been heavy-handed in its message. But the cast expressed the very human pull between "supposed to/want to" onto the stage and into our collective experience with such grace and precision, it was awesome to behold. Kudos especially to Jennifer Allcott for her embodiment of innocence and confused curiosity...she was a shining star. The whole cast was brilliant, and I intend to go again and bring my family and friends.... full review

Have you ever seen a production where the positive energy and passion of the cast made it impossible not to enjoy their performance? Lonesome No More’s production of Spring Awakening has energy and passion in spades. Spring Awakening is a coming of age story featuring the tragic results of negligent parenting during puberty. This tragedy is surprisingly funny under the skilled direction of Dana Murphy and Patrick Riley. I’m not sure which director was responsible for the bulk of the staging for this production, but whoever first decided to use every inch of that space should be commended. It was brilliant. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the many young and promising actors who give powerful and honest performances throughout. I ... full review

This show is tremendous. It is very clear that the team has a rich understanding of the themes and symbols in the text, and they make them manifest in their staging and design, which are incredibly intricate. The play makes excellent use of contrast: Melchior's enormous physicality against Moritz's stillness, the grotesqueness of the adults in the first two acts, against their delicate, intimate, and connected scenes in the third act, Moritz's fast and unwavering tempo against everyone else's variations. All of these elements sharpen each other and facilitate a much deeper understanding of what is clearly a difficult text. The show makes use of images that are sometimes visceral and sometimes intellectual. And while the play may be about the... full review

All facets of this production came together for me. The production design, the direction and the use of the space were completely creative and like nothing I'd ever seen at the Complex before. The recklessness and wild abandon of youth were beautifully captured as well as the cold alienation by adults and the "real" world. I LOVED the masks, the clowning techniques, and really inventive use of the set. Don't miss this show!... full review

From Set Design to the Acting, Light and Sound and Creativity, this show is a must see! It takes a great production like this to keep a 105 year old play alive and relevant. Go and see this show if you can! Enci Publisher, Bitter Lemons http://Bitter-Lemons.com... full review

Tony Frankel, theatre critic for Stage and Cinema here. About thirty minutes into Spring Awakening, it seemed a possibility that this would be THE show to talk about at the Fringe. Directors Dana Murphy and Patrick Riley used every inch of The Complex Hollywood’s Ruby Theatre, including the aisles and backstage; the staging simply blazed with imagination and wonder. There was a palpable sense of excitement in the theatre as we watched the troubled teens of Frank Wedekind's 1906 play deal with their burgeoning sexuality in a repressed society. Patrick Riley and Jennifer Allcott lead an enthusiastic, unbridled and passionate cast. It seemed like a fascinating idea to have the actors who portrayed the adults wear masks, signifying the profou... full review