Being
totally unfamiliar with this play, I was pleasantly surprised with several
aspects of the show including the brilliant set design, especially that of the
laboratory. Protasov (Geoffrey
Streatfeild), a scientist so engrossed in his ‘world changing’ experiments he
is seemingly oblivious to everything going on around him. Can a man really be
so calm knowing another was in love with and trying to win the affections of
his wife? Then there’s the widow (played
to cringing perfection by Lucy Black) who’s thoroughly in love with him,
confessing that rather than read his books, she licks them and rubs them over her
naked body. And his sister who’s slowly loosing her mind.
The play culminates
when the town’s people seek their revenge on Protasov after realising his
experiments have been contaminating their drinking water, hence their ailments.
The ending is spectacular. I won’t spoil it but if you’re in the habit of drifting
off towards the end of a theater play, you’re in for a loud awakening!
Children Of The Sun can be seen @
The National Theatre until 14th July
