Review: RELATIVITY at TheaterWorks

Can a great man also be a good man? Is a person defined by the impact they make on the world or by the impact they make on those they love? Does the importance of a piece of art or a scientific breakthrough outweigh the personal actions of the artist/scientist? These are some of the questions that are tackled in the opening production of TheaterWorks 31st season, RELATIVITY by Mark St. Germain.

RELATIVITY centers around the "great man" Albert Einstein (Richard Dreyfuss) and an unexpected visitor to Einstein's home, Margaret Harding (Christa Scott-Reed) who convinces him to sit down for a rare interview with her. Through probing questions by Ms. Harding, a few corny jokes by Einstein, and regular interruptions by Einstein's housekeeper and secretary Helen Dukas (Lori Wilner), the audience is provided with some insight into the mind of the genius, but also into some of the darker parts of his past - a past that he thought he had left far behind him.

The play begins with an impromptu meeting on the streets of Princeton between Einstein and Harding, and soon becomes an interview/confrontation which provides a peek at the private life and personal struggles of this giant of science. Over the course of the play (which is relatively quick, it is 85 minutes long with no intermission) the audience witnesses revelations, shocking admissions, and a transformation for each of the three characters.

In RELATIVITY, Mark St. Germain's script is solid, and the dialogue between Harding and Einstein is both endearing and heartbreaking in its own way. Through the conversation between the two, St. Germain raises a number of profound points that kept me thinking well past the final bows. He also gives the audience what feels like an authentic taste of the great mind and wit of Einstein, and creates a vulnerable setting to portray a full range of emotion from beginning to end.

As Albert Einstein, Mr. Dreyfuss is transcendent. Upon entering the stage, the audience saw the esteemed and popular actor, but by the end of the show, I felt I was seeing Einstein himself, and that was a thrill. Dreyfuss' accent, mannerisms, and his signature wild white hair made for an extremely convincing portrayal. Ms. Scott-Reed's performance as Margaret Harding, the mysterious visitor, was equal parts raw emotion and determination. And as Helen Dukas, Ms. Wilner gives the audience a stern German woman with a hidden soft-spot for the man she "makes life easier for, so he can change the world."

Rob Ruggiero's direction is solid, bringing out the emotion and conflict of the script, and the staging works very well as the action unfolds in Einstein's study. The intimate setting of the TheaterWorks space works extremely well for this piece, bringing the audience right into the middle of all the action. Speaking of the study, Brian Prather's set seemed to be a true reflection of the man who inhabited it, and Alejo Vietti's costumes captured the period perfectly. The sound design (Michael Miceli and Lucas Clopton) and lighting (Philip S. Rosenberg) also added to the warmth and flow of the piece.

Overall, RELATIVITY is a great opening piece for TheaterWorks 31st season. Simple, yet profound, accessible and relatable, and most importantly, a moving and thought-provoking night of theatre. The performances are solid and the story is something that makes you not only reconsider your previous ideas of this great man, but consider why we do the things we do. And though he is long gone for real, on the TheaterWorks stage, Albert Einstein lives on for just a little while longer.

Photo credits: Lanny Nagler

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