Maxim Gorky’s darkly comic play, Children of the Sun at the National Theatre, is set in Russia as the country rolls towards revolution. It depicts the new middle-class, foolish yet likable, as they flounder about, philosophising and flirting, blind to their impending annihilation.
Protasov wants only to immerse himself in chemical experiments to perfect mankind. He’s oblivious to the advances of the half-crazed widow and his best friend’s pursuit of his wife, let alone the cholera epidemic and the starving mob.
His admiring circle, variously sceptical and lovesick, spar over culture and the cosmos. Only Liza feels the peasants’ suffering and senses their own privileged world is in jeopardy.
Howard Davies stages the latest Russian classic to be staged at the National Theatre and adapted by Andrew Upton, following their acclaimed collaborations on The Cherry Orchard, Philistines and the Olivier Award-winning The White Guard.
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The Children of the Sun cast includes Lucy Black, Matthew Flynn, Florence Hall, Paul Higgins, Gerald Kyd, Emma Lowndes, Maggie McCarthy, Justine Mitchell, Rhiannon Oliver and Geoffrey Streatfeild.