ED2013 4/5 Reviews ED2013 Theatre Reviews

Rites – A Children’s Tragedy (Young Pleasance)

By | Published on Thursday 8 August 2013

In an idealised countryside town set in the seventeenth century, the apparent peace is suddenly disrupted. As Wendla turns 14, she innocently asks her mother where babies come from, and the response is evasive. What follows is the story of Wendla and her peers, attempting to overcome the anguish and confusion of dealing with their own sexual development. This adaptation of Frank Wedekind’s ‘Spring Awakening’ conveys the power and desperation that got the original play censured in 1917, and although it’s been turned into a one-act play, this version is still a strong portrayal and criticism of a society that chose to ignore adolescence. All in all, Young Pleasance gives a powerful and engaging performance that undoubtedly pays homage to this jewel of classical theatre.

Pleasance Courtyard, until 17 Aug, 1.20pm.
tw rating 4 / 5 | [Natalia Equihua]



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