This film about the hit 2006 musical is a sure-handed blend of making-of explainer, theater-kid scrapbook, and jukebox documentary.
The winner of eight Tonys in 2007 including best musical, “Spring Awakening” now gets an adoring documentary for a victory lap celebration. “Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known” does a suitably wide-eyed recap of the show’s success, on the occasion of a recent reunion concert with the endearingly jazzed cast. Michael John Warren’s film is a sure-handed blend of making-of explainer, theater-kid scrapbook and jukebox documentary, doling out hits from its theatrical run (through clips) and the reunion.
Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik’s musical brought a tragic punch — and cathartic rock-outs and ballads — to the age-old story of adolescents grappling with desire, secret pain, and unforgiving parents and teachers. As adapted from the 1891 Frank Wedekind play, the strait-laced period setting raised the stakes on the anguish of transgression, featuring sex, suicide and the emo touch of characters whipping out anachronistic microphones.
Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff, later both on “Glee,” rose up playing the romantic leads, Wendla and Melchior, and here share about their offstage bond. There’s an atmosphere of openness in keeping with the show’s self-expression: Groff discusses coming out after concluding his run, and his co-star Lauren Pritchard references childhood abuse. When it comes to Sater, Sheik and the director of the original production, Michael Mayer, their recalled jitters feel a tad warmed-over, but it’s intriguing to hear Sater note the 1999 Columbine shooting as an impetus.
If the documentary feels more packaged than the “American Utopia” film or the vérité classic “Original Cast Album: Company,” it succeeds as a welcoming group hug.
Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known
Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 23 minutes. Watch on HBO platforms.
Source: Movies - nytimes.com
