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Copenhagen-
Tour
Playwright - Michael Frayn
Director - Alasdair McCrone
Designer - Alicia Hendrick
Music - Martin Low
Company - Mull Little Theatre Company Website
01688 302828
Cast see end of review and also Info
on theatre & Mull
Venue - Citizens' Theatre Gorbals Rd
Reviewer - Nicholas Whyte
Challenging, highly stimulating, and ultimately rewarding
Michael Frayn's Copenhagen explores the moral integrity of two nuclear
physicists: real, eminent, scientific figures of the twentieth century.
The renowned Danish professor, Bohr and his one time assistant and great
friend, Heisenberg, a German, find their friendship compromised and their
respective duties to science and to their nations, irreconcilably split,
as their theoretical atomic physics is called upon in wartime.
In the scientific world, a great debate remains over whether and how their
duty to humanity prevailed, in not encouraging development of the
atomic bomb. The play allows for an artisitic interpretation of these
two figures, whereby each is allowed to express their own point of view
and justify his actions. The perspective of a third character, Margrethe
(Bohr's wife) is brought in to further broaden the perspectives on the
truth of the motivations of the two men. Finally, in order that the subject
may be fully explored, the characters in the play meet as shadows, after
death, to recount the important meeting of 1941, as well as other meetings,
to see if they can come to agreement over what was said.
Frayn's drama is very demanding on the audience's cerebral capacity, and
there is little room for stage-craft. This production is graced with appropriately
simple and effective design. A large, black, circular carpet and a semi-circular
blackboard back-drop, with chalked mathamatical equations on it, forms
the set. Bohr and Margrethe remain 'at home' on the carpet, and receive
their guest, who appears several times in one of three brightly back-lit
doorways, to re-enact the all-important meeting in Copenhagen, 1941. This
design makes clever use of the analogy of an atom, its nucleus and the
movement of neutrons (the three characters) around it. The emphasis on
character and dialogue is also very demanding on the actors, and the production
is assuredly blessed with three fine performances. Close attention has
been paid in the direction, to the passion and logic which fuelled these
people, and the audience is well engaged by the credibility of the portrayal
of these passions. The music by Martin Low is especially worth mentioning.
It creeps in and pulses through moments of the characters' solitary intensity,
beautifully enhancing the drama.
It's a challenging, highly stimulating, and ultimately rewarding experience
of a subject of timeless social relevance.
© Nicholas Whyte 8 October 2002. - Published on EdinburghGuide.com
Cast:
Niels Bohr - John Langford
Werner Heisenberg - Stephen Clyde
Margrethe Bohr - Nuala Walsh
Mull Little Theatre - Based in Dervaig on the
north west side of a beautiful Island in the Inner Hebrides - Iona, St
Columba's Isle is off the western tip of Mull. This well established theatre
has produced 3 plays this season all of which tour in Autumn 2002, see
reviews of There
Was a Man and A
Skull in Connemara for details of their tours. John Langford takes
central and different roles in each of them, must be some kind of touring
record!
This company is the only rurally based revenue funded theatre in Scotland.
In 2002 One play was done in Tobermory the Island's town, the other two
in the Little Theatre in Dervaig. It takes 20mins to drive the single
track road from Tobermory. To stay in Dervaig I recommend Druimnacroish
Hotel, laid back, friendly and good food, a 5 min drive along the
Dervaig/ Salen road, you can also book a pre theatre meal there. Great
place to unwind with no TV! And the Bellacroy Hotel in the village gives
excellent cheap meals in a slightly down at heel bar and the staff are
friendly there too. The village also has bookable bunkrooms in the super
new Village Hall.
Mull is an Island well worth a visit where you can walk in and up amazing
dramatic landscapes, see all sorts of fascinating animals, birds and plants
and gaze at breathtaking views and beaches. Our Scottish Islands are balms
to the soul and tonics to the heart - just remember it may well rain or
be a little cold sometimes and outdoor casual clothes and sturdy walking
shoes are often useful.
© Thelma Good September 2002 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com
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