This is the first time I have seen this
work by Georg Buchner written in 1835 when he was only 22 years old.
I am left with two deep impressions. Firstly, it is an amazing drama
written by someone so young. Secondly, the Jacobins production is
utterly compelling. Max Hoehn’s tight direction sustains the drama
through every scene.
There is a high standard of acting from the
dozen members of the cast drawn from Westminster School. Set in
revolutionary France in the 1790’s during the Terror, the play
depicts how former comrades split into an extremist faction and a
moderate faction. Robespierre leads the former and Danton, once the
hero of the Revolution, leads the latter.
Robespierre is played by Pany Heliotis who
reveals his public zeal for further executions but his personal
insecurities. He is aided and encouraged by his closest ally
Saint-Just played by Daniel Grant Smith who, in a frightening way,
brings out his thuggish and brutal nature.
Danton, passionately played by Edmund Digby-Jones,
is shown at the outset as tired with the excesses of the Revolution.
He is more interested in satisfying his sexual appetites. He
doesn’t realise the danger to his life until it is too late and,
of course, this is a fatal error of judgement.
For such a young group of performers they
play their roles with great maturity. From an historical standpoint
Bruchner’s view that the clash of factions after revolution would
lead to the inevitable growth of dictatorship, was highly
perceptive. Tragically he died at the age of 23.
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