Northampton Community Colleges Theatre Department kicks off its 2021-2022 season with a dynamic and heartbreaking performance of the coming-of-age rock musical "Spring Awakening" which continues through Oct. 24 in the Bethlehem Township college's Lipkin Theatre.
Set cleverly on a giant chalkboard marked with algebraic equations and Latin phrases, the show starts off powerfully with Samantha Prentice as the innocent teenage Wendla in the impassioned "Mama Who Bore Me," as she laments that her mother wont tell her how babies are conceived. The other young girls, equally uninformed, join in with lovely harmonies. Prentice is arresting as the naive but intelligent Wendla and has a strong belt that serves her well.
We meet the boys in a classroom, where they are forced to recite Virgil by a stern teacher.
August Gaumer rings painfully true as the anxious, ostracized Mortiz, who is targeted by the cruel teacher.
Defending him is the rebellious Melchior, played with a quiet strength by Justin Abarca, who leads the boys in questioning their studies in "All That's Known," an arresting number that makes good use of the chairs (choreography by Tina Williams).
Abarcas Melchior has a good voice that blends nicely with Prentices Wendla on songs like the tender duet "The Word of Your Body" and the morning after lament "The Guilty Ones." His falsetto shines on the forlorn "Left Behind."
The show features numerous energetic and touching group numbers such as the odes to sexual frustration "The Bitch of Living" and "Touch Me."
In one wrenching scene Mary Eitzenberger as the secretive Martha and Kate Morgan as the world-weary Ilse, disclose their physical and sexual abuse by their fathers in the powerfully-sung "The Dark I Know Well."
That scene leads to one of the most devastating moments in the show when the anguished Wendla begs Melchior to hit her with a switch so she knows what pain her friend has felt.
Morgans Ilsa also has a powerful voice and she and Gaumer as Moritz have a heart-wrenching duet in "Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind."
The other girls played by Amelia Illingworth as Thea and Kait Stein as Anna ring true as confused young teens and add strength to vocal harmonies.
A highlight is the explosive "Totally F***ked" when Abarcas Melchior is scapegoated by his teachers.
The other boys, Maxwell Wetherhold as Hanschen, Connor Sternberg as Ernst, Joshua Crowley as Georg and Cade Kocher as Otto all have great solo moments and contribute dramatically to the group numbers, oozing frustration and resentment.
Trisha Kane Steele plays all the adult woman parts and is memorable whether as Melchiors sympathetic mother, the vindictive school mistress or a fantasy of a busty piano teacher.
David Lippincott is just as effective in all the adult man roles from the stern teacher to Mortiz unforgiving father.
Director William Mutimer keeps the energy flowing throughout and scenic designer Brett Oliveira delivers another outstanding set
Adding greatly to the show is the seven-person live orchestra particularly the evocative strings and driving electric guitar, led by music director Lucille Demasi Kincaid.
Due to themes, this show is recommended for mature audiences.
The actors are not masked but the audience is required to be masked inside the building.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 and 23 and 2 p.m. Oct. 24.
Tickets are $5. For information go to ncctix.org.