Weekend Review: “Sleeping Beauty Wakes”

“Sleeping Beauty Wakes”

Kirk Douglas Theatre

March 31- May 20

What would you do if you went to sleep and woke up in 1,000 years? What would the world be like when you woke up? The musical “Sleeping Beauty Wakes” answers this question and more in its world premiere at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.

“Sleeping Beauty Wakes” is an original twist on the famous fairy tale in which Sleeping Beauty does not wake up when Prince Charming kisses her after 100 years but instead sleeps for another 900, eventually waking up in a modern-day sleep-disorder clinic.

The people whom she meets and the society that she finds could not be any more different from her fairy-tale kingdom from “once upon a time,” yet she ultimately discovers that although time may pass and the world may change, beauty remains constant.

Not only is “Sleeping Beauty Wakes” a new version of this classic story, but it is also the first originally produced “sign-language theater musical.” The cast is composed of both deaf and hearing actors, and the entire production is performed in sign language.

Sign-language theater is an incredibly compelling concept for a musical; the sign language is the choreography for the story, so instead of watching just another dance number, the sign language becomes a different form of dance that directly integrates the meaning of the lyrics into the movement.

The music itself is nothing incredibly original, but it is undeniably catchy. The sound quality of both the theater and the performers’ voices is pristine, and you won’t be able to help leaving the show humming a tune or skipping to a familiar beat.

However, the most impressive element of the musical is the incredibly talented group of performers. It is impossible to distinguish between deaf and hearing actors, and the show incorporates live musicians who not only supply the musical accompaniment but also provide some of the vocals and even jump in an act every once in a while.

Extended by popular demand, the show’s run continues until May 20. It is presented by Center Theatre Group in association with Deaf West Theatre.

“Sleeping Beauty Wakes” is a must-see show for everyone. While the story itself targets a younger crowd, the sheer originality and ingenuity that creates this one-of-a-kind musical is unforgettable.

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