Spring Awakening

'Spring Awakening' is an alt-rock musical based on Frank Wedekind's 1890s German play of the same name . It's chock-full of school-age sex, masturbation and angst, but nevertheless swept the board at the 2007 Tonys. When the British production transfers to the jukebox-friendly, softcore West End, it will stand out like a bruise. Unlike Wedekind's play, which exposes the cruelty of innocence with near-sadistic delicacy, Stephen Sater and Duncan Sheik's music is an unabashed anthem to youthful lust and idealism. The mixed emotional tones can feel a weeny bit embarrassing. And Michael Mayer's production is improbably well-groomed. The sorrows of its young heroes Melchior and shock-headed suicidal Moritz hardly result in a single hair out of place. All round, the stylised electro-shock hair and 'Vogue'-ish choreography looks like it was designed to be iconic. Still, that's teenagers for you. Melchior's schoolmates provide much needed comic relief in a musical wank-fest. Hopefully the production will develop a rougher, more ragged edge in the run. As musicals go it's radical, but its high polish deprives it of a real sense of danger.