Spring Sleep

I was thinking if my first blog post should be some kind of definitive proclamation or statement but couldn't think of anything particularly definitive to say, so I'll just post a thought. That's what this blogging lark is for I guess...

Some of you may or may not know of the new hit musical Spring Awakening. If you don't well I can't be bothered to explain about it, so this is for those of you who do. Suffice to say, it's West End run which was due to carry on until October has been drastically cut short to the 30th of May, 11 days from the writing of this post.
Many people are outraged, distraught and just plain angry at the closure (due, as all things are to the recession). Having met the cast, I heard it from the horse's mouth when one cast member simply said to me "It's just so... shit!"

I saw the show a few days ago and, after I watched the whole thing and thought about it, I decided it was utterly fantastic and was probably one of the best musicals I've ever witnessed.
However, I am not, like so many teenage fans of the musical, going to rant about why it should stay open. As a fan, I think it is, ultimately, the perfect thing for the show to be closing.

It's not a case of "bowing out at the right time". The show's main target audience is teenagers, and it is relevant for teenagers, it is about teenagers. It is youthful in its essence and it has a very rock and roll, almost punk spirit. And I think really, if it wants to live up to itself and the intense reputation it's garnered alredy, closing now will only be perfect for it. It's fitting.
It's not that I don't want it to be commercialised (I don't. I hate obnoxious, noisy American tourist in the West End as much as the next theatre-goer), but It's just fitting for the show to end now. The story is about a whirlwind experience of youth, and the show ends looking forward and moving on in the light of what has transpired. And I think by the show's presence in the West End being a youthful whirlwind experience, it is being pure and loyal unto its own message, and all affected by it can look forward in the light of what has transpired.
It will be a cult thing. We all love cult things deep down. Spring Awakening will be the bright, exuberant flame it currently is for years to come, before it has time to fall into the West End's rank and file of standard musicals.