Spring Awakening 15th Anniversary Concert - Victoria Palace

I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't remember seeing a preorder option for the programme when I booked!

It was an absolutely thrilling evening and whetted my appetite for the the Royal Academy production next weekend.

Appreciating all the love Jack Wolfe is getting. Can't wait to see him again in Next to Normal this summer and will be excited for whatever show he does next. I imagine he won't be short of offers.

Is anyone able to help with this? or is there a full list anywhere (the cast board just listed everyone, not who was who)

So many incredible stories were blended together on Sunday night, in such symbiotic ways, I was stunned pretty much the entire night:-

There was the reunion of so many performers, and band members, to relive something so precious, after 15 years, with obvious signs of the wear and tear of aging, yet no trace of it in their performances, which were as exquisitely beautiful as ever;

There was the swing who became a star, in Jamie Muscato, so laconic, masculine, and rebellious as Melchior. The edgy, unhinged looseness of his rebel with a cause, Jason Dean from Heathers, was infused into a Melchior that screamed "YEEEEESSSS!" with more thrilling gleeful abandon at the climax of "Totally F-cked" than we energised audience members could have hoped for;

There was the 13 year old 2009 audience member, Jack Wolfe, who was inspired by that show, and after meeting and working with 2009's original Moritz, Iwan Rheon, got to play the part himself for one day, so sensitively, impulsively and boyishly, an absolute triumph. Like Miranda in "The Tempest," Wolfe's purity, expressiveness, and excitability made this Moritz one for whom every plot revelation was a "brave new world;"

There was the sheer, endearing chemistry of opposites in having a Melchior so rebelliously knowingly cool ("Oh THAT kind of dream") and a Moritz so gentle, soft, sincere and sensitive ("I'm TREMBLING!), which felt funny and heartwarming in equal measure;

There was the actress who became a producer, in Evelyn Hoskins, who conceived this astonishing reunion concert and made it such a success;

There were the creators of the show, who initially refused the rights (lol), were talked round by Hoskins (lol), and who were in the audience to share this perfect evening;

And there was the line producer of the Hammersmith production, Imogen Perrin, RIP, in whose honour this evening was held, who not only gave birth to this production but also, through her brave testimony helped save the life of Mona Goodwin, who spoke in her memory.

The show itself, despite its railing against religious ignorance, is spiritual in its essence, with all its pagan purple summers and blue winds and martyrs (Wendla and Moritz) who suffer to redeem survivors (Melchior etc). When you add all the above (additionally redemptive rites of passage) stories into the mix, and throw in such pristine pure voices as those of Charlotte Wakefield and Jos Slovick, and such a generally pin drop silent respectful audience, the sense of occasion and beauty just became overwhelming.

The absence of 3 stars of the original production ironically enhanced the night by relieving the event of a sense of stifling nostalgia, as old stories making way for new stories is very much what "Spring Awakening" is all about anyway. Having such a boyish, alive, sensitive Moritz, as Jack Wolfe, and such a wild and wise Melchior, filled the evening with a pervasive and refreshing sense of renewal.

I also particularly loved how the relationship of Richard Southgate's sly witty super-sarcastic laid-back Hanschen and Harry McEntire's super-soft squidgy Ernst mirrored almost exactly the contrast of extremes between Jamie Muscato and Jack Wolfe. And their "Word of your Body (reprise)" struck me as the most caressingly exquisitely sensitive song of the evening.

And how perfect was the staging of "Left Behind" to see Jack Wolfe, like his lurking ghost of a Gabe in "Next to Normal," lingering silently at the feet of the singers.

All in all, this show was unmissable for me to the tune of 5 stars.

Couldn’t have said it more perfectly!

I’ve only just about gotten over the emotions…

Also kudos to the respectful and well-organised stage door; full of love and gratitude. The cast literally didn’t want to leave and go to their party and were buzzing with adrenaline.

I won’t forget this evening.