Theater play portrays 'Pains of Youth'
Campus Times
May 15, 1998
M. Elizabeth Pietrzak, technical director, prepares the light board
prior to one of the pre-performance run-throughs with assistance from senior
Chryseis Alexander, light board operator.
University of La Verne Theater presented "Pains of Youth"
on the main stage of the Dailey Theatre April 30 through May 8.
The play was written by Ferdinand Bruckner, an Austrian who began writing
plays in post-World War I Germany. His plays were primarily based around
the current social problems which were present during a time of disillusionment
and pessimism.
"Pains of Youth" was directed by Georgij Paro and has a total
of seven members in the cast. Cast members include: freshman Alicia Hester
(Marie); sophomore Jessica Wotherspoon (Desiree); Catherine Przybyska (Irene);
junior LaVelle Wilson (Freder); senior Michael Medford (Petrell); junior
Tom Moese (Alt), and Jennifer Holidrake (Lucy).
Because there were only seven characters, Paro said, "They needed
to be present, focused and strong at all times."
"Youth is always youth," said Paro. The play was written in
1926, the social problems and issues of that time are still relevant in
what one may find in today's society. Issues of life, death, love and hate
are included, and topics of alcohol, relationships, homosexuality, bisexuality
and prostitution are explored.
The play begins with Marie preparing for her own high school graduation
party. The party is toiled by Marie finding out her boyfriend Petrell is
involved with Irene. Marie is then befriended and seduced by Desiree, who
helped her discover a part of her sexuality she had never explored. In the
meantime, a distant friend, Freder, brainwashes the modest maid Lucy to
enter the world of prostitution. Desiree also wants to be in Lucy's world
but is denied the chance by Marie. Desiree takes her own life, with the
assistance of Freder, because she was denied her wishes of becoming a prostitute.
Marie lost her lover and her boyfriend, and the play concludes with her
having the option to take her own life.
The conclusion of the play was written in two different ways by Bruckner,
but Paro put together his own version.
"It was nice working with a very talented group of actors and actresses,"
said Paro.
"Although they are still students, there were moments that they
could have been preforming in a professional theater," he added.
From an actor's standpoint, Wilson, a theater major said, "Georgij
forces qualities in you as an actor that you have no idea that you have
ever had.
"Georgij gave us the directions for the show to be a show. However,
the final result for the show to be a success, was that the actors and actresses
put in their own individual talents to bring out the essence of the show."
The play had a plot that seemed similar to what one may find on a daytime
soap opera or a heated talk show. It was entertaining and included topics
that could be relevant to people in today's society.
"This was a play which may seem pessimistic, but it was also very
honest," Paro said.
Tom Moese, junior exchange student from Germany, touches up his makeup
before the May 8 performance, while senior Michael Medford gets into costume.
Moese played the character of Alt, a friend of the four main characters,
and Medford played the role of the charming womanizer Petrell.
