This past weekend we took in some culture.
Alex and I went to see the one of the final showings of a play titled ‘Night Over Erzinga‘ in San Francisco. The play is an Armenian family’s “story of survival and reconciliation” based on playwright’s, Adriana Sevahn Nichols own family history.
Eerily her family’s story mirrors my husband’s family history almost exactly. See while I’ve told you that I’m imported from Detroit by marriage, I’m also Armenian by marriage.
Night Over Erzinga explores the multi-generational experience of the Obihadian and Sevhan families. Tragically impacted by the Great Massacre that occurred in Armenia following World War I, the story explores their rebuilding in America while dealing with the memories and guilt of the ghosts left behind.
My husband’s great-grandmother, Araxie, told him similar stories of death marches, of women being raped and children murdered. Not exactly bedtime stories that you’d want to hear from your Great-Grandmother but extremely important ones to be sure the truth was shared and remembered. The story of the Armenian people.
The acting in Night Over Erzinga was unbelievable. A small no-frills production, the actors purposely played multiple roles jumping from one generation to the next. Their performances were impeccable and extremely moving. We found ourselves moved to tears at several points in the show.
Terry Lamb, Neva Marie Hutchinson and Juliet Tanner in Night Over Erzinga (photos by DavidAllenStudio.com)
This is a story I hope many more people will see. Not only because of the incredibly important history lesson it tells but also because of the moving message of family and resilience.
When you see this play, you will be changed forever – I hope it will be produced in other cities soon.
A history lesson more people should know
The history of the Armenian people is not one that is spoken of commonly and many have never even heard of it. But the Great Crime is one of our modern world’s most tragic and horrific stories.
Most people know about the Holocaust and the millions of lives that were lost during World War II, but the Armenian genocide that occurred prior and shortly following World War I is what supposedly gave Hitler the idea.
In a document, that outlined his orders “[... to send to death mercilessly and without compassion, men, women, and children of Polish derivation and language,...]” Hitler justified his actions with the following despicable statement: “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”
1.5 million Armenians were murdered during the Armenian Holocaust.
Over half of the Armenian population.
So please, take a moment and learn about this important event in our history. Hope and pray that such evil is never again repeated and light a candle and remember my children’s and my husband’s family’s ancestors.
The Armenian Genocide[1][2]—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime[3]—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I.[4] It was implemented through wholesale massacres and deportations, with the deportations consisting of forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees. The total number of resulting Armenian deaths is generally held to have been between 1 million and 1.5 million.
Click here to learn more about the story of the Armenian genocide.
Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian 2008
