I stepped into the Cuesta Performing Arts Center with a basic Google summary of the “Spring Awakening” storyline and left with a new respect for live performers. The vulnerability and commitment I saw were breathtaking.
Written by Steven Sater, this story follows a group of teenagers in 19th-century Germany, trapped in the ignorance of their mentors. It pushes the boundaries of what audiences may expect from a college theater production, with vulgar language, sexual themes and religious shame woven throughout. When a rock number quickly turned into a performance of simulated self-pleasure, I thought to myself, ‘Is this ok to watch? Can a school actually encourage this kind of performance?’
More than anything, each individual actor’s performance impressed me. With a small cast of roughly a dozen on-stage performers, many of them filled more than one role. I was especially impressed by Victoria Culman, who was listed to play “Adult Woman.” I lost count of how many characters she was playing, but her ability to memorize and deliver each line with such intent was remarkable. Her delivery remained sharp and stern, making her perfect to play the strict motherly figures.
“Spring Awakening” follows the young Melchior and Wendla as they embark on a journey of self-discovery led by forbidden curiosity. Taylor Lee Chambers (as Melchior) and Abbi Colvin (as Wendla) delivered a confident performance of lust and connection. Their onstage chemistry and erotic demonstrations had me blushing with some discomfort. Chambers and Colvin played characters that struggled with sexual desires, teen pregnancy, mental health challenges, and the shame of sinful thinking in a religious environment. The story that is “Spring Awakening” is compelling on its own, but the cast’s execution and strong, diverse voices carried the show.
“Spring Awakening” is a powerful piece that covers heavy, stigmatized themes like gay romance, abortion, physical and sexual abuse within families and the pain in young minds. Lasting a little over two hours, with intermission, I had no problem sitting through the entire show. It was entertaining from start to finish and the talent of these performers is hard to overstate.
The last opportunity to see this performance will be on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Cuesta Performing Arts Center on the San Luis Obispo campus. Tickets are available online.
