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I always look forward to unearthing a hidden treasure in the Festival programme each year and I am rarely disappointed. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon a real treat on the first day. Killed by Curriculum produced by the Independent Youth Theatre Dublin, has a real hit in Shaun Dunne’s new play. Loath though I am to go overboard on young talent, for fear ego will obscure the emerging talent that is Dunne and his troupe, it would be unjust not to praise this play to the full.
It
has an attractive confident and talented cast. The even ensemble
playing is focussed, clear and believable under Aifric O Rourke’s
and Shaun’s co-direction. We are in a sixth year classroom, with
Liana O Cleirigh’s very young teacher keeping the group on the
curriculum.
There
is some real talent on stage. Though each cast member has a name they
are known by their labels, Liar, Cliché, Slut, Fag and Man -
interestingly the Man character is the only one without a negative
tag…and he is straight. Barry Morgan’s handsome Frank is quite
together emerging gay and the plot unusually singles him out from the
other scenarios at the end, which jarred a little with the ensemble
theme. There was some very naturalistic playing of a text that should
switch off many people - interspersing thought with poetry but that’s
the key to its success - it works. Its stimulating, challenging and
innovative.
This
dysfunctional group unleash all the pressures of the points system,
the out-dated curriculum, onto their own comfortable dysfunctional.
John Montague and Sylvia Plath’s work is the stimulus for the
independent thought process of the piece and it is a most intelligent
approach from Dunne. There were some very strong monologues with
Gemma Ali Hayes Brady, Caroline Becky Moriarty and Lindsey Paula Lyne
showing great assurance in their delivery, comprehension and
connection.
This
play is a must for younger people, its funny, honest, well played and
razor sharp in its humour and construction. It exposes the pressure
on modern youth and their invented language and behaviour codes which
get them through each day. There are some clichéd scenarios but few
cliched responses. It finishes on Wednesday - do not miss it.
Review: Gordon Farrell