The Humans, a dramatic performance created by Stephen Karam and directed by Joe Mantello, was one of the greatest artistic pieces I have ever watched. Originally, when I heard that we would attend this event as our final show, I did not know what to expect. I imagined that stereotypical family relationships would be displayed and that I would easily be able to predict what would happen next. Once I entered the theatre and saw an intricate, two-level set already prepared for the show to come, I realized that the play was going to more intriguing and surprising than I had previously imagined. In fact, suspense was built from the opening scene and lasted until the door slammed shut at the end of the performance.
Although I first thought that Brigid was the protagonist of the Blake family Thanksgiving story, I grew to recognize that the play was instead centered around the progressing life of her father. To highlight the issues that caused Erik (the father figure) to live through distress, the play featured problems faced by his family members that ultimately affected him, altogether illustrating intricate family dynamics. Throughout the performance, it became apparent that Erik had to accept that his life was changing before his eyes and that he was losing pieces that brought together his identity. This feeling of destruction was continuously portrayed by all of the fluctuations in his life, including the loss of his job, his mother, his daughters, and even his wife. Firstly, he had to admit that his mother, Momo, was only physically present, but that her character and mind had already disappeared due to her fatal illness. Moreover, he had to comprehend that it might be their last time spending Thanksgiving together as a whole family. Also, this father had to accept that his daughters were distancing away from him, each moving to different cities to follow a chosen career path. Although the loss of his wife was not as apparent, it became evident towards the end of the performance that their relationship had suffered and that they had been living in separate worlds. His anxiety surrounding his constant losses even led to his nightmares, ones that focused on a woman whose facial features were blurred by a mass of skin found all over her face (reminiscing the fear he had when he thought he had lost his daughter Aimee back in September 2001). Then, with each of the sudden thumps heard throughout the performance, Erik was given sudden awakenings to bring him back to the reality that he was trying to avoid. Finally, the ending of The Humans paralleled Erik’s recurring dream, one in which he never entered the tunnel of uncertainty. During the final scene, though, he opened the basement door and finally went the opposite way from where an elderly woman previously passed, walking towards the light as free-minded Richard had earlier insisted on. At this point, it can be inferred that Erik had accepted the fate he was given and that he was ready to move on to the next stage of his life, filled with new beginnings. Even though going forward would mean losing people that meant everything to him, he had to let go and to let life continue along its path.
I was continuously amazed by each audience member’s desire to laugh during the performance, despite the sorrowful topics that were presented. Through the presentation of poverty, disease, relationship problems, and the loss of an identity, essentially many factors that show parts of real life, the audience members had the chance to connect to the actors and relate to their experiences. Jokes such as standing closer to the window for better cellphone reception or criticizing the size of a New York apartment were small pieces to the puzzle that brought the story of the Blake family to life, giving viewers a chance to laugh while personally understanding the underlying messages. The Humans hinted that life might not be perfect at all times, but what matters is the strength to move on and see the bright side of a situation, all surrounded by caring people along the way. Therefore, the name given to this performance does suit it well, illustrating true situations people face and highlighting that problems naturally arise as a part of life’s journey. In fact, our ability to grow from our experiences to become stronger is what makes us human. Additionally, I greatly enjoyed the way the director was able to present numerous points through Deirdre’s remarks, Brigid’s modern attitude, Richard’s sense of not belonging (even his name highlighted that he would be wealthier at a younger age than the hardworking father would ever be), Aimee’s unveiling emotional side, Momo’s sudden moments of clarity, and finally the father’s “hidden” thoughts as he tried bring everything around him into one picture. By the father being the first person to appear on the stage and the last to leave, the director emphasized that, despite everyone’s individual issues, Erik suffered through all of the problems combined and was there to experience each moment of every family member’s problem, from the first to the last. He had the burden to take care of his passing mother, jobless younger daughter, distraught older daughter, and peculiar wife. Overall, Erik’s world was not as perfect as everyone had imagined it to be and his inability to maintain normal conversations was rooted in his desire to escape his reality. If given the chance, I would love to see another performance led by this director or created by this writer, since The Humans had a fantastic portrayal of the multi-dimensional aspects of family life, filled with troubling moments that we all learn to move through, adapt to, and laugh about.
