The Awakening of Spring : A Tragedy of Childhood
at Mission Viejo High School

Reviewed on January 23, 2015

Max Matuzak
Tri-School Theatre
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Desire and confusion arise in ‘The Awakening of Spring'
OC Register Varsity Arts
by Max Matuzak a senior at tri- School Theatre

Hard, straight-backed wooden chairs, as rigid and unrelenting as the oppressive culture they represent, line the perimeter of the stage in Mission Viejo High School's adaptation of the 1890 German play "The Awakening of Spring: A Tragedy of Childhood." While current culture is often accused of over-sexualizing teens, this play takes its audience back 125 years and reminds them that ignorance and repression also carry consequences.

The production features a stellar cast. Jason Marrs plays Melchior, an intelligent young student admired by his school mates. Marrs, with his mature voice and masculine gestures, portrays Melchior as precocious and perceptive, sharing his knowledge of human sexuality with his curious classmates. However, when Melchior's actions set off a catastrophic chain of events, he becomes the scapegoat. Marrs' voice trembles and his body shakes as his character deals with guilt and needless death.

Moritz, played by Nic Parsons, lacks Melchior's charisma. Overwhelmed by poor grades and the awakening of puberty, Moritz is an emotional wreck. Parsons slumps his shoulders, wrings his hands, walks in timid steps, and rambles as Moritz relates disturbing suicidal dreams. Parsons fully embodies his character.

The female cast members also excel in their performances. Courtney Mauss is touching as Wendla, the inquisitive and outgoing young girl condemned by the sexual ignorance and shame imposed by her mother, played by Genna Hewett-Abbott. In one effective scene, Wendla hides her head under her mother's skirt, pleading to be told how babies are conceived. Hewett-Abbott's wide eyes and halting voice convey her character's inward struggle to answer her daughter without imparting any real knowledge.

Other standouts include Shekinah Bryant as Martha, a victim of child abuse, and Meghen Van Doleweerd as Ilse, a young woman with exotic tales of life as an artists' model, who temporarily sways Moritz from his path of self-destruction.

The set design by Mission's IB drama class powerfully reinforces the themes of the play: Boys and girls sit isolated from each other on opposite sides while the "adult" characters, keepers of information and mores, perch on an elevated platform, backs to the audience. A slanted chalkboard in center stage displays the words "educate," "shame," and "tragic." Masks and robes worn by professors symbolize concealment and conformity.

"The Awakening of Spring" succeeds in being an emotionally-charged and thought-provoking reflection on the costs and casualties of ignorance and sexual oppression.

Allison Cruz
Aliso Niguel High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Mission Viejo's dark 'Awakening' is more than 'child's' play
OC Register Varsity Arts
by Allison Cruz a junior at Aliso Niguel High School

Growing up is hard - and in the austere times of 19th century Germany, in the throes of emotional suppression - it can even lead to tragedy. Tackling issues from child abuse to teenage sexuality, Mission Viejo High School's "The Awakening of Spring: A Tragedy of Childhood" boldly brings dark and controversial subject matter to light.

The IB Theater Class presents their original adaptation of this play in a thought-provoking and accessible way. The story follows eleven teenagers as they begin to explore the world beyond what they have been taught by their strict parents and repressive educational system - but they are in for a rude awakening.

Courtney Mauss invigorates her role as Wendla as she skips across the stage. Her youthful curiosity never falters, even as she begs an uncomfortable and uncommunicative Mrs. Bergmann (Genna Hewett-Abbott) to tell her where babies really come from. Mauss' purple doll-like eyeshadow (designed by Nic Parsons) fully establishes her character as a paragon of innocence.

Starkly contrasting Wendla's girlish grace, Melchior (Jason Marrs) exudes masculine confidence with a firm posture and booming voice. However, this confidence shatters in the climactic scene when he falls to his knees and sobs over Wendla's grave. Marrs' ability to transition his character from self-assured to utterly despondent, not only impresses, but provides strong emotional realism.

Also in the grips of despair is Moritz (Nic Parsons) as he fails out of school and fails to please his parents. Parsons' sullen facial expressions highlight his character's inner turmoil. His shaky voice and tentative movements become more apparent as he sinks deeper into his depression. Not even the sensual Ilse (Meghen Van Doleweerd) can convince him to run away with her.

Satirizing the symbolic disconnect between adults and children, the teachers make birdlike strides and shrill commands. Though seemingly inhuman, their exaggerated movements bring a sense of comic relief to the performance. In particular, Fetch (Miranda Cowdrey) hops onto tables and runs through her scenes with frantic energy.

Adding to the organized chaos, the set (designed by Rachel Umana and the IB Drama class) includes a tree of mismatched chairs and a sharply-angled window. The slaked stage is filled with words like "child" and "educate," which reflect the expectations that follow the students' every move.

Bold and riveting, Mission Viejo uncovers a powerful message about communication: what it means to understand and to be understood.

Megan McCarthy
University High School
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Mission Speaks Out in "The Awakening of Spring"
OC Cappies Facebook
by megan McCarthy a senior at University High School

It is often said that silence is golden; however, silence can be destructive towards parent-child relationships when conversation is greatly need. Mission Viejo High School's adaptation of "The Awakening of Spring" tells of the sorrow of the depicted German adolescence and shows how lack of communication can lead to great tragedy.

Makeup (Nic Parsons) first introduces the certain disconnect between the parents and the children in the show. Children characters wear white foundation and red rouge, effectively portraying them to be in the likeness of porcelain dolls; this contrasts with the parents' dark eye makeup, giving them a harsher look. However, there are differences among the adults themselves. Genna Hewett-Abbott (Mrs. Bergmann) has deep wrinkle lines and dark eyebrows, creating a harsh look, as she is less willing to open up to her child. While on the other hand, Holly Roehl (Mrs. Gabor) has less dramatic dark features, as her character opens up to her child but still tries to direct him on his path.

A distinction appears as well among the children through the actor's physicalization. As Nic Parsons (Moritz) and Jason Marrs (Melchior) sit in the Gabor house, Parsons sits, intensely staring at his clasped hands and nervously shaking his left leg, effectively depicting his characters nervous and awkward demeanor. Marrs simply sits, shoulders back and leaning back slightly in his car, and remains in a more calm manner, juxtaposing his friend's lack of confidence with his sureness.

Courtney Mauss (Wendla) exemplifies the transition of childhood to growing up. When she plays with the other girls, she smiles excitedly and moves with a spring in her step without a care; however, after her lose of innocence, she staggers across stage with a solemn troubled expression, making this change believable.

The ensemble of teachers nonsensically gesture, alternating between waving fingers, pounding fists and shaking their arms to the sky. Their sharp hitting tableaux prove the ignorance of the adults who suppose their own authority to be faultless.

Jason Marrs' and Mission Viejo High School's IB Drama Class's adaptation of the play takes different elements from multiple translations to create an original thoughtful version of the show as well as keeping the controversial elements of the show tasteful and appropriate.

Mission's production of "The Awakening of Spring" wonderfully takes the stage and discusses our need for discussion among ourselves.