Through Sat 12/16
A thoroughly enjoyable outing at convergence-continuum, this time with a biographical play about “the man who invented the future,” Nikola Tesla.
Robert Hawkes brings both gravitas and whimsy to his portrayal of the Serbian genius ultimately responsible for alternating electric current, wireless tech and cell phones despite stolen patents and being derided as a madman.
Writer Christopher Johnston and director Geoffrey Hoffman bring lots of low-tech stage magic to enliven the talk. There are waltzing waiters, a pugilistic billionaire J. P. Morgan (the marvelous Val Kozlenko, who charms as a young Serbian student from the future who can see Tesla’s ghost), a duel of words and lights with Edison (the wild-haired Robert Branch, also delightful as Mark Twain), and even a pigeon puppet depicting Tesla’s avian muse, while his friend’s wife Katherine (Nicole McLaughlin-Lublin) pines for him. Designer Jim Smith fills the stage (Tesla’s lab) with cool vintage scientific gadgets.
In our modern dark age world where science is not only ignored but derided, it was touching to be reminded of someone whose raison d’être was to harness the energy of nature so humans could communicate and ultimately find peace. Well done, all.
[Written by Linda Eisenstein]
Cleveland, OH 44113