There was not a weak link in the cast, and their passion, energy and emotion was palpable. It was clear that The Butterfly Catcher is a story they believe in, and in turn they made you believe in it too.
It features all the staple school characters that are instantly recognisable and relatable: the alternative kids, the popular cliques and the overworked intellectuals. What makes this production stand out from the many other high school plays is its attitude. It is at once angry and tender, seamlessly exhibiting the pressure young students are under as they are made to choose careers at 15 while they grapple with love and loss in the midst of pointless exams.
In a sense it seems wrong to be reviewing a piece of theatre that shows how teenagers are desperate to escape from judgement, both academic and social, but the quality of the production and the talent of the cast makes it enjoyable to recount.
There was not a weak link in the cast, and their passion, energy and emotion was palpable. It was clear that The Butterfly Catcher is a story they believe in, and in turn they made you believe in it too. The script was excellent, mixing tight and punchy verse with an overrunning metaphor of the birth of a butterfly, along with a variety of well-executed songs. There was clever use of costume and with only school chairs to use as props, it was remarkable how well each scene was blended into the next.
Students and parents alike would benefit from seeing The Butterfly Catcher; it was an excellent piece of theatre that proved to be relevant, touching and most of all, important.
