I'm Awake!

Last night I ventured downtown to see VaRep's summer offering "Spring Awakening". I wasn't really sure what to expect. I knew about the partial nudity. I knew about the language. I knew about the "master of my domain" scene. I'm 48, but I'm no prude, and I love all kinds of music. Plus, I won free tickets, so I made the reservations to go. Now, before I go any further, this is not going to be a review of the production. This is going to be a post about what this production "Awakened" in me. I, like many others I am sure, who had never seen this musical had some misconceptions about it. For one, I did not know it took place in Germany in the 1890's. I assumed, incorrectly, because it was a rock musical, it took place in the present day. Yes, the music is very much present day, and the score rocks, but the theme of the music is timeless, and that's what I discovered last night. I also thought that the title was about the "awakenings" of youth and youth only, but after seeing the show last night, I realized how very much it is about awakening feelings and thought in the way we treat our children and youth as parents, teachers, coaches and mentors. I left the theater entertained, but as I began to think about the show it pressed upon me how very relevant it is today, especially in light of the issues this country seems to be split right down the middle about right now. I woke up early this morning and lay in my bed thinking how much damage we, as adults, do to our children, not just in the obvious ways of physical abuse, or verbal abuse, but the damage we do with our lack of communication, our silence, our turning a blind eye and feigning ignorance. To use modern terms: SPOILER ALERT. I watched this cast of very passionate young people last night reveal to each other on stage and in turn to me in the audience their very real hurts and angst and wonder and curiosity. The play starts with a budding ( her mother's descriptive reason as to why a childhood dress can no longer be worn) young girl, Wendla, questioning her mother as to where babies come from. Her mother is obviously uncomfortable with the subject. She would prefer that Wendla be satisfied with, "The stork has visited your sister." At Wendla's insistent pleas, her mother finally gives in. However the explanation she gives comes nowhere near what actually happens to create life. As the play goes on we meet several characters who are dealing with their own "awakenings." Moritz, who's having a hard time focusing on his studies because he is plagued with the dreams that all young boys have as their bodies change. Melchior is the free thinker, the major crush, the unbridled spirit. He and Wendla connect and discover each other one day. This results in a pregnancy, and Wendla cannot believe she's having a child. When it finally dawns on her that the afternoon of pleasure she enjoyed with Melchior is what gave her the child, she is shocked! Her mother is ashamed and appalled that Wendla would do such a thing. Does it open a dialogue? Is there a flood of forgiveness? No, more silence, and more shame. In fact, the running theme for me was silence and the damage it does. People suffering in silence, ashamed and made to feel bad for the natural feelings that everyone has. The silence of a mother who turns a blind eye to the sexual abuse of her daughter at the hand of her father. Enduring it all because we were taught to be good little girls and boys, and polite, mannerly children don't even think these things, let alone speak of them. The sad thing is, nothing's changed since the 1890's for some. If you had changed the clothes and the language of the actors, it could have been a very believable reality series about the teens of today. Why are we so afraid to be honest with our children? We were children. We were teens. We felt exactly what they are feeling. Why is it so hard for us to talk to them about it? I am amazed at the number of teen girls my girls know that have never had a conversation about sex with their parents. People take a lesson from Wendla and her mother. Just because you don't talk about it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Wake up!