Touch Of Class For Young Players
Joe Mooney(Ponyboy), Sophie Nelson (Cherry), Tim Konar (Johnny), Alison Mundell (Marcia)
Reviewed by David Laister - Grimsby Evening Telegraph
Class wars in America have been a rich source for play-writers and film makers for many a year - West Side Story and Grease spring to mind.
The Caxton Youth Theatre has brought another to the forefront in an excellent depiction of 50's youth, which pits those with money and those with emotion against each other in a cauldron of a stage.
The Outsiders is the story of gangs which have grown up together - knowing each other and their counterparts inside out.
For the Socs (the wealthy college kids) and the greasers (a band of guys and gals united in hardship), fighting is a way of life until one night it goes too far.
Tragedy occurs as does heartbreak in a hard hitting and emotional scene. The mark has been overstepped.
For one youth, Johnny Cade played excellently by Tim Konar, it is a downward spiral as his hands that killed are avenged by fate rather than fight.
His buddy, Ponyboy Curtis, could easily have followed the same path, but he is destined to survive as the play goes on to show.
This production is packed with emotion and the cast does well to keep the suspense flowing through a flurry of set changes. For director Dave Peasgood, it was another performance to be proud of as the quality of the Caxton Theatre shines like the stage spotlight.
The Outsiders was originally written by SE Hinton.
David Laister
The playwright aged 17!
�
Back to Andy's Plays
The Outsiders For Teachers
Play extract
E-MAIL ME!