The Life and Times of A. Einstein at Theatre West

The Life and Times of A. Einstein is a funny, offbeat comedy about a day in the life of the famous scientist, as seen through the eyes of his secretary, Ellen. As his secretary, chauffeur and bodyguard (she shoots, too!), Ellen shields him from the press, keeps him on time for appointments, runs his household, and tries unsuccessfully to hide her passion and feelings for him.Its Einsteins birthday, with an ensuing press conference for him for which he is late. We never meet Einstein, but Ellen manages to explain the Theory of Relativity (hilariously oversimplified), lay out the dos and dont for journalists pending Einsteins arrival, and vamps her way through his life. She fields questions, evading answers and putting her own spin on those she feels are too important for the truth.It is Princeton, 1934. Einstein has just arrived there (yes, he is just learning English..and doing quite well, thank you!) and we learn through Ellen of his colleagues, Berlin, and the life that Einstein and his wife had to leave behind. Through the course of the play, Einstein seems to be sitting right next to Ellen as she passes on her insights on one of the great minds of the 20th Century. The show is touching, poignant and infused with humor and warmth as well as informative. Its the little known story of the woman who ran Einsteins life for 35 years, controlling the Einstein image during his life and after his death, until her own death in the 1970s.Written and performed by Kres Mersky. Directed by Paul Gersten. Produced by Dina Morrone for Theatre West.
Ages: 12 to Adult.