Madam, - Upon reading Gerry Colgan's review of After Opium, a play by Elske Rahill (Arts, August 6th), I concluded that your reviewer had completely missed the plot. The theme of this play is not, as Mr Colgan suggests, Laura's love of dancing or even Sinéad's alcoholic mother. Instead, it is the loneliness and pain which young people suffer.
Mr Colgan accuses the playwright of not communicating with the audience in a meaningful manner. Is cleverly piecing together the puzzle that is youth not sufficiently meaningful?
One of the most impressive aspects of the play is the overlapping monologues which expose the falsities and fears with which young people struggle.
It deals with issues facing 16- to 26-year-olds frankly and realistically. So compelling did I find this play that I have seen it three times with different groups of friends. All of us teenagers really liked it as we related to the characters' thoughts.
"Nothing important is said" by the characters, according to Mr Colgan. Perhaps with age the issues touched upon by this play become less important. However, I can vouch that to many youths they are vital. It is almost insulting of Mr Colgan to say otherwise. - Yours, etc.,
KATHARINA Ó CATHAOIR, Bray, Co Wicklow.