Set in Nazi Germany, with occasional interruptions from the Reagan era of the 1980s, Tony Kushner's A Bright Room Called Day has more in common with America of 2016 than one might imagine at first glance. The political upheaval following a devastating economic crisis and the rise of an influential, charismatic leader can certainly resonate with many people in America today, even if it may not be what the author of the play had imagined after writing this play in the 1980s. The story follows the events of the 1930s as Hitler gains ground in Germany and a small group of strange friends work to do their part politically . While some are more successful than others in finding a voice in the chaos, others are left behind in the aftermath of war. The play begins with a grand celebration in which the characters toast the new year. Agnes admits that she feels relatively safe in Berlin at the moment, and the group decides to make up a story together. The story is about a cold night and a guardian who tries to defeat nature by fighting back and arming himself with a warm coat and scarf. At first he succeeds, but later discovers that even his coat and scarf are ineffective. This reminds the audience that while no one will likely ever be as evil as Hitler, history has a tendency to repeat itself. We are invited to choose our leaders carefully, to take an interest in politics and to choose our affiliations wisely. Most importantly, Tony Kushner is trying to call us to action in this piece. He urges each member of the audience to avoid the traps of complacency to which Agnes succumbs in the play. To take no position is not to remain unscathed, as Agnes had seen many of her friends leave, but to remain stagnant, to be haunted by your fears and regrets, and to die without anyone to remember you. Tony Kushner's warning is just as valid whether you're from 1930s Berlin or 1980s New York, or even if you're from Elizabethtown 2016.