The Christian Brothers: Growing Up In The Catholic School System ~ Adelaide Fringe 2025 Review

[THEATRE & PHYSICAL THEATRE/Theatre ~ SA] Holden Street Theatres, Sat 22 Feb, 2025. The 21st Century may be crammed with ever new advances, but keeping a clear picture of our past is just as important. Why? Well, just like ignoring niggling pains in our bodies, the further we distance ourselves from those times gone by, the more we may be forced to face their messages. ‘The Christian Brothers’ gives us a taste of what school life was like back then, and this is within the lifetimes of some of us still around today. The play is set in the 1950s, just before the Catholic Church made significant changes to modernise itself. While entertaining with its cleverly crafted script, impeccable timing and professional delivery, the content is chilling in its stark illumination of what served for education in the Catholic school system. We may laugh at the extreme antics of this teacher asserting his authority through brute force, cajoling, and emotional outbursts, but this incessant bullying shaped the lives of many boys and young men up until very recently. It is sobering to realise that what appears to be comical extremes were in fact the reality of daily life. This could be seen simply as a sad indictment of bygone days, yet it begs the question, as good theatre does, have we really changed all that much meanwhile? In recent years and just in the last weeks, we see the erosion of what we took for granted was going to be here to stay. When the only worthwhile goal in life posed is the saving of one’s soul, why would kids bother paying attention in class? And staying pure in thought and deeds is a tough ask for anyone, let alone a herd of teenage boys. They are constantly subjected to the numbing monotony of prayers, regularly recited during the day as often through gritted teeth as with many mixed emotions. Constant threats, coercion and intimidation are normal. These combine with the ever-present possibility of eternal damnation in hell, or worse, telling your mother of your misdeeds. The relentless put-downs and beatings were designed to enact discipline; instead, they acted to break spirits. This is especially rich when they then put their supernatural spirit forward as a substitute. Robert Cusenza gives a splendid performance, competently directed by Peter Goers. This classic of Australian theatre remains a powerful reminder that sexism and misogyny may be still alive today in large part due to such institutionalised practices. 4.5 stars David Cronin The Christian Brothers continues at Holden Street Theatres from 3.15pm until Sun 23 Mar. Book at FringeTIX or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ClotheslineMag #ADLFringe