Synopsis
The first half of the play depicts a poor but grand Russian upper-class family, their servants and hangers on and is set against the background of a volatile society teetering on the edge of revolution. Protasov is a scientist devoted to theorising about the nature of Time, Elena his wife is in love with Chepurnoy, the photographer. Her sister, Liza, is on the verge of a breakdown, while Melania is a widow chasing Protasov. The family maid watches it all intently. In the second half, time itself is blown apart showing how motivations never change. Some characters continue to pursue each other across countries and decades, while modern tropes and figureheads appear, including Gorky himself.