A Cultural Experience

The play, set in 1905, may seem ancient in respect to our modern world but 1905 really wasn’t that long ago. During the first Act I was struck by how far our society has come in terms of technology, dress and even socioeconomic hierarchy; granted there is always room for improvement. Then following intermission, I was slammed with the main conflict of the play involving young Talbot and the “gratitude” expected of him by the homosexual priest. Surrounding this central plight was the harsh reality of the poverty stricken who due to their lack of options were relegated to bow and scrape to the affluent business owners who could care less about their worker’s well-being.

Prior to seeing the play, I knew of the sexual abuse inflicted on poor boys taken in by the Catholic church and I knew of the dangerous and inhumane working conditions of the destitute factory workers. However, as is often the case, these abominations and injustices were made even more heinous when reenacted live before my eyes. I reviled the church and hated the selfish factory owners depicted by Brother Casgrain (played by Everett Yancey) and The Boss (played by Samuel Richardson). My righteous anger was only further incensed by Mrs. Talbot’s (played by Kristina Johnson) brokenness as her sweet son Leo (played by Tyler Ellman) died in the factory where he was too young to be working anyhow.

The performance's high quality sets and acting chops truly brought me into the wintery months of 1905 in Quebec City. I felt the helplessness of Talbot’s family, the horrific loss of the decapitated young girl at the factory, and Michaud’s utter desperation to right the wrongs. Each issue that colored the play only heightened my awareness of the cruel, sickening and godawful evils that this world often brings us face to face with. As a Christian, I felt nauseous knowing that such terrible deeds were done in the name of God. Much like Michaud, I could not- initially- handle looking into the depravity of man’s soul and when I did I felt so utterly powerless to fix the wickedness that I saw.

As for me, personally, when I was in eighth grade I was sexually abused by a boy on a school bus. At the time I was an innocent, having no idea what was going on and it was only a couple years later that I understood what I had been a victim of. In this way I can understand Talbot’s vulnerability when assaulted by a more experienced priest and the self-revulsion, guilt and anger that he felt. Harming the innocent is a deplorable abomination that I cannot be blasé about. When Michaud gave Talbot some justice and closure I felt like I had been offered the same chance at freedom. Therefore, while I cannot know what it is like to be financially impoverished, I do know how it feels to be taken advantage of.