March 9, 2011 | Theatre,

The Sun Also Rises: Raising a Glass and Carrying on

by Kristy Mandour

A unique style of honest and authentic truths fill the pages of The Sun A lso Rises, making it feel as relevant today as it did when it was first published in 1926. The novel tells a tale of love and loss that’s eternally applicable and bursting with the essence of human connection and longing. In Hemingway’s words, the characters in the story are “hurt very badly; in the body, mind, and spirit, and also morally.” Like these characters, everyone at one time or another has had an unrequited or unattainable love.  

The yearning, desire, and aching feelings that accompany heartbreak are universal, and humans are comforted through sharing and receiving sy mpathy for their pain. In The Sun Also Rises, there’s a sense of raising a glass to new beginnings and glimpses of hope through the muck and the mire of loss and heartbreak that occur throughout the novel. The title itself is crucial in creating a sense of assurance and a “this too shall pass” element that people can relate to on a visceral level. It’s no wonder that The Sun Also Rises never wanes in popularity and has established itself as an American classic.

To fall under the spell of Hemingway’s words in an entirely new way, don’t miss Elevator Repair Service’s adaptation: The Select at the Paramount Center, March 15-20. The timeless story will stay with you long after the curtain call.