18 May From High Camp to Melodrama

11th January, 2010
YC review, Spring Awakening: From High Camp to Melodrama

Even 120 years since its creation, the play Spring Awakening has not lost any of its importance. Painful transition from childhood to adolescence, sudden awakening of senses and the dispersion of numerous illusions are as convincing and vivid topics as they were at the end of XIX century.

Adaptation: Irena Kraus; Director: Anja Suša; Cast: Maša Dakić, Jelena Petrović, Jelena Ilić, Damjan Kecojević, Miloš Anđelković, Dušica Sinobad, Miloš Samolov.

Even 120 years since its creation, the play Spring Awakening has not lost any of its importance. Painful transition from childhood to adolescence, sudden awakening of senses and the dispersion of numerous illusions are as convincing and vivid topics as they were at the end of XIX century. In the production by “Duško Radović” Little Theatre, that credibility is additionally emphasised by subtle modernization by Irena Kraus, a Swedish dramaturge. In an intelligent, careful and precise manner, Kraus has made small alterations thus refreshing the narrative, making it more appealing for the contemporary audience without wasting its original depth and beauty.

Clear and coherent direction by Anja Suša has contributed to the emphasis of some elements (attitude towards authorities, for once). The directress has managed to keep the double perspective – on one side, a somewhat educational, didactic tone inspires young people to take a better look into their lives and choices, while on the other, the performance offers an opportunity to the “more serious”, i.e. adult audience to take another peek into fragile adolescent souls. In this sort of performance which lightly moves from self-irony to serious drama, from a high camp to melodrama, the success is largely upheld by actors who are, simply stated, amazing. Among them, Maša Dakić, one of the most exciting actresses of her generation, has to be singled out as particularly passionate and poignant, as well as Miloš Anđelković, funny and tragic at the same time.

Boban Jevtić