Seduction, suffering and suicide are three of the most controversial words in our language, but they are also the three most suitable to describe Ferdinand Bruckner’s Pains of Youth – which was performed by the Theatre Group at the end of October. After previewing the rehearsals the week before the production, I knew that I would enjoy the real show but I certainly never guessed that TG would execute this play with such professionalism and skill.

In a venue as intimate as the Banham Theatre it would have been easy to overwhelm an audience with clichéd techniques. However TG managed to gauge the balance between entertaining effects and raw acting talent seamlessly by using minimal production except some subtle lighting changes which were used to mirror Marie’s gripping decent into insanity.

The way in which the cast brought each act to a close was also very impressive. The scene would end, the lights would fall but the actors continued improvising as the audience entered or exited the theatre. The absence of a stage curtain made what we were watching seem so much more authentic and less mechanical than your standard play.

Sophia Papadopoulos, Rob Newton and Rosy Byrne fantastically interpreted the three main characters as they struggle to make the decision between “bourgeois existence or suicide.” The chemistry between the cast was easily believable and the way they interacted with each other was remarkable – for example, during a fight between Marie and Irene (Marie’s ex-boyfriend’s new spouse) I truly believed that they hated each other.

Overall, Theatre Group deserve all they praise they get for this beautiful rendition of such a crucial work by Ferdinand. I have never witnessed a play that captures the chaos of being young as earnestly as this production of Bruckner’s classic.

Cameron Tallant

Image: Facebook/ TG