The Physicists is an odd play, not just its plot but it’s tone as well. It begins as a dark comedy, possibly a comedy thriller, takes a turn into the absurd, morphs into a tale of espionage, and ends as a drama of philosophical and political ideas. Written by Friedrich Durrenmatt, translated by James Kirkup, and skillfully Directed by Allison Vincent, The Physicists features a fantastic cast. It’s an odd play to end the summer on, it’s not escapist fun, though it contains many entertaining and humorous moments, nor is it a serious play, though it’s message is. I think going in knowing this is a play that gives you a little of everything will help you enjoy the ride, I certainly did. Note to the management it’s too warm in the theater, which you could sense a bit of sluggishness in the audience, but not thankfully in the cast. The temperature in the lobby was perfect, replicate that and you’ll have an attentive and alert audience.
When a murder occurs at a mental asylum, Inspector Voss is on the scene with his men. This is the second murder of a nurse in the last three months. If you’re wondering who killed the nurse, don’t, it’s not that kind of play. The murderer of this nurse was a patient who thinks he is Albert Einstein, he is not however responsible for the previous killing, that was another patient who thinks he’s Sir Isaac Newton. The third patient, as there are only the three left in this wing, is actually another Physicists, Johann Wilhelm Mobius. They are all under the care of Fraulein Doktor Mathilde von Zahnd. Everything seems straightforward, including who killed the dead nurses. But then Sir Newton throws the first spanner in the works by revealing that he isn’t Newton at all but actually Einstein. He doesn’t let on though because it would upset the other patient that believes himself to be Einstein. Suddenly it’s unclear who is really who, or at least who do they think they are? Who’s mad, who’s sane? As the reveals become more absurd they also begin to feel more real. Just as the play itself progresses it gets more and more outlandish but at the same time more serious.
The three patients Newton, Einstein, and Mobius are played to perfection by Peter Christian Hansen, Pearce Bunting, and Alex Galick. Hansen pulls off the costume of Sir Isaac Newton as only he could. His regal stature and strong face are perfectly suited to Newton’s period clothes and his long majestic wig. Hansen is also gifted with not only a fierce intelligence but the ability to convey it as well. Bunting is surprisingly convincing at presenting a believable looking Einstein, and the combination of his more grizzled look with some outlandishly goofy actions, a pistol standoff comes to mind, earns solid laughs. Galick, the true Physicist is really the soul of the play. I’d say heart, but I don’t think there is a lot of heart in this play, but there is soul and Galick is excellent at embodying it. He’s stuck with a lot of explanatory reasoning in the final act which could have become quite dry, but he knows just how to inject enough passion and reason into his lines that his arguments win us over rather than put us to sleep. Also of note are Sara Marsh as Fraulein Doktor Mathilde von Zahnd and Jason Ballweber as Inspector Voss. Marsh commits completely to a delightfully eccentric character vocally and physically, in fact I hope she isn’t in too much pain by the end of the run, because what she does is amazing, but has to be painful. Ballweber’s Inspector Voss is surrounded by incompetence, which he turns into some of the funniest reactions both verbal and nonverbal in the whole play.
Let’s talk for a minute about Allison Vincent shall we? I know she isn’t new to the scene, but it seems like you can’t swing a cat in this town without hitting something brilliant that Vincent is involved in. Seriously at 2023 Twin Cities Horror Fest she was in the two best shows. She was involved in 3 of the top 12 shows I saw at The Minnesota Fringe Festival, and without being put on the spot, it’s safe to say it was three of the top 5 at Fringe. Here again we see what sets her apart, there is no mistaking the directorial hand of Vincent on this production. A master of movement you can see the guiding hand behind every bit of physical movement, from the ways in which characters exit the stage to the little bits of business that turn trying to take a seat into a laugh or even more miraculously, a building block of the characters. Vincent is backed by artists in every department that help to create this unique bit of theater. Sara Marsh’s costumes are perfect, from Newton’s Wig and clothing to the male Asylum attendants tight shirts. Scenic and Prop Designer Michael James has given us a very interesting set. With three free standing doors along the back of the performance space and wall lighting sconces that hang in midair between them, it’s a mirror to the sometimes absurd tone of the play. Shannon Elliot has some very interesting lighting cues, including the final moment before the lights go out, that really highlight nicely James’ set design.
The Physicists is definitely a comedy but it also has things to say that really do mean something. Mobius has a point of view that says something important, but this isn’t just a play about ideas, as off kilter as it is it’s also about reality. Because we can be full of ideals but reality like nature finds a way to survive. It’s basically the same cautionary tale as Jurassic Park, but it’s funnier and with a lot less dinosaurs. The Physicists runs through September 15th at the Gremlin Theatre in St. Paul. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.simpletix.com/e/the-physicists-tickets-175452
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