Laughter, emotion, excitement and above all an important message. The Sambel Trasie theater company presented its nineteenth production, ‘Eclipse’, in a sold-out Theater Thalia on Wednesday evening. This time a new approach was chosen. After ten years, the familiar concept of actors being individually introduced in advance and sponsors thanked was said goodbye. There was also no break. After a short word of welcome, the audience was immediately taken into the story and remained captivated for more than two hours. That turned out not to be a bad choice. From the moment the curtain rose, there was a special atmosphere in the room. Visitors responded enthusiastically to the humorous moments, but became silent when the story took an emotional turn.
Text Shanavon Arsomedjo
Image Rey Jasir
Kevin, the heart of the story
With ‘Eclipse’, Sambel Trasie chose a current and socially relevant theme: mental health among men. A subject that, according to writer and leader Sally The Shining (formerly Rising) Star, is still too often underexposed. The performance will also be performed in June, the month in which worldwide attention is drawn to the mental health of men, while Father’s Day is just around the corner.
At the center of the story is Kevin, a man who has been trying to survive for years while he is constantly confronted with new challenges. His wife dies while giving birth to their son. On her deathbed he promises her to raise their child with love, which has been difficult for him over the years. It seems as if Kevin is trapped in an endless series of misfortunes. Twelve years after the death of his wife, he still struggles with grief. He feels misunderstood by his father and brother, feels that he is inadequate as a father and lives with a partner who treats his son poorly. As if that wasn’t enough, he eventually discovers that she is having an affair with his own brother.
Kevin has been struggling with stress complaints for years and uses medication to keep his mental health under control. To the outside world he says that everything is going well, but inside he is slowly crumbling. Those around him try to help him, but he doesn’t feel heard. Despite the people around him, a feeling of loneliness prevails.
Saved by son
Kevin’s son is also having a hard time. He is abused by his stepmother and feels unhappy at home. Tensions within the family continue to rise, while Kevin sinks deeper into his sadness and despair.
One of the most moving moments of the evening occurs when Kevin speaks to God. He asks for answers and strength to continue, but feels like no one is listening. When others give him advice, he becomes frustrated. He believes that it is easy for everyone to say, because no one really understands what he feels.
One of the most moving moments of the evening occurs when Kevin speaks to God. He asks for answers and strength to continue, but feels like no one is listening.
Pastor Danny plays an important role in the play. His message to Kevin is clear: no matter how big the problems are, ultimately you are the one who gives direction to your life. By turning to God, you can find strength to move on. Yet he reaches a low point. Overcome with grief, he decides to end his life. However, at the last moment he is saved by his son, who arrives just in time. It is a scene that visibly makes an impression on the audience.
The performance then shows that seeking help is not a sign of weakness. The message is clear: talk about your problems, put pride aside and seek professional help when necessary. Psychologists and other support agencies can provide support. Acceptance of the past and learning to deal with pain are important steps to starting over.
It is striking that the story does not end as many visitors might expect. Kevin’s partner, who has been portrayed as a feisty, dominant and unkind woman for a long time, decides to change her ways and convert to religion. With this, Sambel Trasie shows that everyone deserves a second chance and that change is always possible.
Own experience
Afterwards, many visitors said they were touched by the subject and the way it was presented. According to Sally, most of the audience understood the gist of the story. “The mental and the physical form one whole. If one of the two does not function properly, you are not healthy as a person. If you are not mentally stable, you cannot function properly.”
The choice for mental health among men arose from developments she recently saw in the news and on social media. “You see men who use violence, commit suicide or families that fall apart because a man exhibits strange behavior. People often don’t know what is behind it.”
Sally also knows personally how important mental health is. “I have had to deal with that myself. I started talking, visited a psychologist and learned to accept many things as they are. I also started to focus more on my hobbies. That helped.”
‘You see men who use violence, commit suicide or families fall apart because a man exhibits strange behavior. People often don’t know what’s behind it.’
With ‘Eclipse’ Sambel Trasie once again proves that theater can be more than just entertainment. Between the laughs and the emotional moments, the audience receives an important message: no one has to fight their battle alone.
All seven planned shows quickly sold out. There will be no additional performances this time, despite the great interest. Sally is currently preparing for her own show at the end of July. However, she is already looking ahead to theater play number twenty, which will be performed in September. Fifteen performances are planned for this purpose, two of which will be free of charge for healthcare workers and senior citizens.-.
