Pains of Youth

by Ferdinand Bruckner

Bourgeois existence or suicide. There are no other choices. Vienna, 1923. A discontented post-war generation diagnose youth to be their sickness and do their best to destroy it. This is a shocking, erotically charged play by Austrian writer Ferdinand Bruckner, presented in a compelling new version by Martin Crimp.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, German Literature

116 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1928

Reviews

[Tighy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Pains of Youth, the spirit of modern youth, disillusioned, tormented and perverse, finds an expression full of tense drama. Bruckner (born Theodor Tagger) revealed what is rotten in latest youth generations -contempt for life, inability to be happy, dissatisfaction, not without an approving accent. His pessimism is destructive and leaves a void that can only be borne by those who are in irremediable despair.
We do not find in this play anything of the spontaneity of the salon irony full of useless and gratuitous stereotypes, but the pure despise for the contradictions of life. It is a bitter smile that cancels out any naive pleasure or spontaneous abandonment.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I saw the live version of this stage play as well and it was more memorable because of that.

[valeria]

La juventud no puede ser nunca sana. La juventud es un terreno peligroso. La juventud es la proximidad latente de la muerte. La juventud es la única aventura de nuestra vida.

[Carly Van Liere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This play is fucking crazy.

[Zanda Borga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nekādas vieglās pastaigas. Nekādas. Skaidri nojaušama ekspresionisma dvesma.
Zinot, kad uzrakstīta luga - uzreiz pēc 1. Pasaules kara - tas nepārsteidz.
Tam laikam - viennozīmīgi drosmīgi uzrakstīts materiāls par jauniem cilvēkiem, kuri netiek galā ar pieaugšanu.

[maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

shit is weird but enjoyable