i want to point out some (good) things i was talking about in this high school production
Look at “My Junk” and how they pulled off the masturbation scene and how well done the whole numbers is
Check out the boys in the Moritz Passes scene and in particular the Hanschen/Ernst hints that I thought were a nice touch. The teachers are great too, not too over the top. And I’m not just saying that because one of the actors is following me on Tumblr :P
Look at the intensity leading into “The Dark I Know Well” and the staging with the adults miming and the boys all looming in the background at the end. Possibly my favorite spin on the original staging.
“The Guilty Ones” with Melchior and Wendla up in the hayloft (LOOK HOW HIGH UP THAT IS) and everyone gathered on the floor like they’re in church. You may know I have some annoyances with the original staging so this pleased me a lot. I don’t think I mentioned Father Kahlbach in my original commentary but I was impressed with him too.
Moritz’s suicide just because the acting was so perfect. I couldn’t ask for much more from this scene.
So much in “Left Behind”. Wendla running into her mother’s arms. Martha and Ilse together. Hanschen. Just so many interesting things here. Ilse’s breakdown.
Hanschen (and Ernst but I have a hard time finding Hanschens I like so I’m more impressed) being so good in “Word of Your Body (Reprise)”.
Wendla and Frau Bergman being so good in the scene before “Whispering” and still reflecting the mother-daughter bond so well despite the harshness in the scene (that slap though… but I forgive you) and then the song itself— those vocals blow me away (I’ve heard performances of this song I liked less on Broadway) and I love the reference to the Word of Your Body choreography.
The (I feel) fairly clever censorship in the reformatory scene
“Those You’ve Known” because though I didn’t say too much about it, it was not because I wasn’t impressed with it— and it’s one of my favorite songs in the show (I’ve been a little critical of the band I think so let me point out they do well in this song)
And finally I already got to show you how pretty Ilse’s Purple Summer solo is but let’s look again, and in this video you can see Martha hold her hand.
HIGH SCHOOLERS
ugh I just love this show and this could’ve gone so badly on a high school stage and I’m pleased that I get to tell you about how much thought and care was clearly put into it instead. SO THANKS AGAIN SHOREWOOD.
