Local Erie community theater, Dramashop, is performing Michael Frayn’s Tony award-winning play, “Copenhagen,” directed by the Rev. Shawn Clerkin.
The show opened last weekend and will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Dramashop’s theater at the Renaissance Center.
The script of “Copenhagen” has a scientific nature, so it has the potential to entertain and intrigue the scholarly science community
In” Copenhagen,” the spirits of the great 20th century scientists Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg and Bohr’s wife Margarethe meet after their deaths to figure out why Heisenberg traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1941.
Throughout the play, Bohr and Heisenberg show several versions of their meeting in 1941, arguing over consequences and motives of their action, discussing physics, the politics of World War II and the creation and impact of a bomb.
The actors did well to show the motives and character of each part.
David Baltusavich, in his first Dramashop performance, plays a concerned and energetic Heisenberg, who does whatever possible to defend himself to prove he is not responsible for parts of the turmoil of World War II.
Josh Mizikowski, also making his first Dramashop performance, shows a defensive Bohr who tries his hardest to not mention his political views of World War II.
Jessica Annunziata plays a realistic Margarethe, who wants to know why Heisenberg came to Copenhagen but does not want to hear the discussion of German politics that could bring disaster because of the German occupation of Denmark.
The minimalist nature of the set enhances the show.
The set consists of a diagram of an atom on the floor of the stage, three chairs and a projection screen.
Throughout the show, there were many projections on a screen related to the discussed matter in the show.
For example, whenever a scientist’s name was mentioned, his picture was shown on the screen and scientific and mathematical scratch-work related to the science being discussed was displayed.
The length of many of the projections is a little distracting, but the projections of the scientific and mathematical scratchwork enhances the scientific theme of the show.
The three talented actors performing a well-written but complex play helps create excitement. It is a great chance to see a one of a kind show.
“Copenhagen” continues at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Dramashop theater at 1001 State St.
Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for the general public.
MICHAEL FUJITO
