The Butterfly Club at Southwark Playhouse

It is difficult to settle down to the evening when without explanation the play starts nearly twenty minutes late and without any hint of how long the production is or whether we have an interval.

The programme gives little away which is a pity because the Mayhem Company's cast, predominately made up of Southwark teenagers, includes some good actors. Although one or two of the young people still need to work on their diction and delivery.

But Pascale Morrison Derbyshire as Cassandra manages with confidence her demanding lead role bringing factions and generations together.

Ten year old Levi Akwasi Low as Alex shows great potential which should see him appearing here again.

The story is set in Dartford just before Christmas. Scene change on the minimilist stage is indicated by the moving of a sofa which is rarely sat on.

Sadly the young audience missed the sometimes amusing dialogue so recently written that it seems to hint at the current credt crunch. There was just the odd chuckle from isolated over thirties dotted around the seating.

The sad warning against easy abortion delivered by the bereaved mother Angela (played well by professional actress Jennifer Wagner) may have been heard