If the title, Spring Awakening, makes you think of flower buds, butterflies, and puppies, hold on to your seat! Spring Awakening is a rock musical adaptation of Frank Wedekind’s book of the same title, written in 1891 and banned in Germany the greater part of a century. Dealing with all topics related to the angst of coming of age in a time of sexual repression, the story addresses the frightening issues of suicide, rape, abuse and abortion. And it includes some vulgar language and nudity.

Set in the time in which the story was originally penned, the tale follows the lives of a handful of teens as they struggle into adulthood. There is Wendla, a young woman yearning to find out about love and life, but her close lipped mother refuses to enlighten her; Moritz, an insecure young man tortured by dreams of women and falling hopelessly short of his father’s expectations; and Mechoir, the self assured friend who knows much more than his friends and is willing to share that knowledge. Though dressed in somber dark suits and dresses, the characters are really not any different than the teens you see today, facing adult issues while they still aren’t quite adults.

Spring Awakening isn’t for the faint of heart.  There is a rather vivid scene in which two lovers find each other - the timelessness of the theme has the strength to carry the story. The angst of youth, the exploration of sexuality, the realization that some of the world’s systems are indeed corrupt—these are passages that all children make at some point on the way to adulthood. And, the actors’ portrayal of this desperate time is so base, so spot on, that the show refuses to be categorized as cynical or lurid.

With music written by pop icon of the 1990s, Duncan Shiek, and lyrics by Steven Sater, Spring Awakening has been referred to as a youthapalooza musical, a story dealing with sex as the primitive, life-changing force that it is, rather than simply the nasty pastime continually referred to in today’s pop culture.

Spring Awakening’s unabashed, frank portrayal of emerging adulthood contains vulgar language and nudity. Older adolescents and adults who have not yet forgotten the tumultuousness of coming of age… will appreciate the raw honesty of the tale.

Single tickets forSpring Awakening are available at The Capitol Theatre box office: 509-853-ARTS or 800-325-SEAT after September 6, 2010.