Children of the Sun

            Upon sitting down in the National Theater this past Friday night, I had no idea Maxim Gorky’s Children of the Sun was about to thrash down upon my soul with such revolutionary vengeance.  I was immediately floored by the elaborate stage and the soft sunlight, all of which illuminated the ignorant horrors of the Russian upper class.  The layers of the stage were fantastic.  We could see inside the common room, down a hallway, inside the laboratory, outside the house and even outside the wall that “protected” this wealthy family.  Even though the scientist had the chance to see everything going on outside his lab through the windows, he was too wrapped up in his chemistry set to notice the obvious, like his wife’s unhappiness and the fact that his experiments were poisoning the townsfolk.  Only the “crippled” Liza spoke up about the reality going on past the wall but her words were constantly brushed quickly apparent that the most rational person in the room was always considered the most unstable and abnormal.

            Even though the play was written over a century ago, it absolutely rings true in today’s modern society.  While the scientist at first appears to have some wise words about the nature of life, it quickly becomes apparent that he doesn’t even listen to his own words.  In fact, none of the characters really listen to each other at all.  The wealthy have their heads in the clouds and fail to notice anything going on around them, so much so that a homeless beggar manages to waltz right into their home, going unnoticed until he speaks to them.  He asks them for a single egg and they send him away with nothing, only to later waste ten fresh eggs all for the sake of “play.”  This scene reminded me of how our society tends to treat the homeless.  There are so many people living on the streets who can’t afford the basic necessities while the majority of us waste food and water every day without a second thought.  The scientist spoke of the dangers of ignorance yet he was the most ignorant of the group.

            It’s difficult to put into words just how deeply this play moved me.  When Boris’ note was read aloud in the final act and it was clear he had committed suicide, I gasped aloud and had to hold back a floodgate of tears.  Then hearing Liza screaming in agony from off stage over the death of her fiancé was excruciating to watch but it was in that moment when I was completely immersed in the narrative.  I felt like I was sitting there in that very room, totally forgetting that it was a performance.  Never in my life has a play taken hold of my mind and soul.  I was blown away and emotionally exhausted by the end but I have to say it was easily the most amazing spectacle I had ever seen on a stage.