The Children of Vonderly
Wednesday after the Aperture Lisette Model exhibit, Alyssa and I went to see a play put on by the Ma-Yi Theater Company. It was called The Children of Vonderly and written by Lloyd Suh. It was performed in a very small black box theater in the back of a coffee shop. However, once the show started the cast right away took command of the audience’s attention and they proved that they deserved to be performing this on a stage for the entire world to witness.
There was one set with the removal and addition of different props to indicate in which room the scene was taking place. The backdrop was made to look like an old-fashioned lanai on the older mansions that has just as intricate architecture as the homes themselves. Through the lanai windows you could see how secluded this mansion in the middle of Indiana really was. All you could see where the silhouettes of intertwining trees that made up a vast forest cutting the house and its inhabitants off from everyone and everything else. In the opening scene we see a very energetic Sasha being fed by older brother Jerry that is seated in a wheel-chair. It is obvious to the audience that Sasha has a severe mental handicap, because although she looks like a young adult she speaks like a pre-schooler. Sasha reveals in a very blunt way that their father has passed away, in asking questions about what will happen to things that belonged to him including herself. After Jerry explains to Sasha that she does not belong to anybody, because she is her own person he also explains the legal technicalities of what will happen to their deceased father’s belongings.
The next scene brings more of the family together in a “family meeting” that their mother has called. If the audience was curious about the family situation in the first scene, it is resolved in this scene. As more of the siblings enter the scene it is revealed to the audience that all of the children were adopted, are of varying ethnicities, and all have disabilities both mental and physical. It is also in this scene that Mrs. Vonderly first reveals the mental and emotional turmoil she is experiencing in the aftermath of her husband’s death. She verbally abuses her older children in this scene and reveals that she was somewhat jealous of the relationship between the children and their father, in the aspect that the children do not look at her in the same trusting way and that her husband did not make her feel as special as the children. However, this point is discussed in greater detail at the end of this act. After Mrs. Vonderly storms out of the meeting for the last time after working herself into a frenzy, the younger children Sasha and Benjamin go after her to comfort their mother. Through lighting you can see these three characters behind the backdrop. Here Benjamin is standing over his mother and sister taking their pulses, because Mrs. Vonderly is convinced that her children have killed her as well. It is in this moment that Benjamin’s emotional intelligence of others is revealed. Looking out at the audience there is a glisten visible in Benjamin’s eye. He is scared, yet there is still some hope there.
I could go on for hours describing the entire show, but I wouldn’t want to ruin it. It brings a new light to those with disabilities and how they are faced with the same decisions of whether to leave home and test their luck on their own or if they should stay in a safe haven that has always protected them and never know what could have happened. All the characters display great emotional flexibility and play there parts convincingly. They light fire to the words they are speaking. Let’s just say I was engrossed the entire show. I recommend that everyone go see it, but you have to rush because I believe it is only playing through this Sunday. So if you read this on time, please go see it. It is most definitely worth the while. Also, I posted a link of a review of the show to give those interested a better idea of what the show is about.