Review: ATOMIC Triumphs at New Line Theatre

ATOMIC receives it's Midwestern regional debut with New Line Theatre's thoroughly engaging and informative production. While it might not seem typical of the productions you're used to seeing the company present, it falls into a category which they excel at; breathing fresh life into a new show, and in the process, displaying its many artistic merits. As noted in the director's notes, this is a modern Prometheus story in a sense, with physicists creating a sort of Frankenstein's monster as they construct this weapon of mass destruction. The analogy of letting the genie out of the bottle could also apply, since this new technology also led directly to the Cold War and arms escalation that occurred. This isn't just a slice of history that explains how the atomic bomb was created, but more a piece that shows us the emotional impact it had on its creators, Filled with a clever and catchy pop/rock score that drives the angst the characters, particularly Leo Szilard, a name passed over in many history books despite his brilliance, feel about how the bomb is going to be utilized. Full of surprising amounts of both humor and heart, this is great theatre, and I could tell from the discussions that happened during intermission, a show that will surely provoke a lot of lively debate. It's essentially must-see entertainment that will have you pondering many of its myriad of aspects and points of view long after the lights have dimmed.

This is an ensemble piece by its very emphasis on the teamwork required to fashion something as radical, powerful, and dangerous as a nuclear device. But, we're actually watching the events that are unfolding through the eyes of a physicist named Leo Szilard. It was a name I didn't recognize until I did my research, and was completely astonished by his accomplishments. How could he have been forgotten and replaced with the more familiar personalities that inhabit the famed Manhattan Project? Why do we remember Oppenheimer, Fermi, Compton, Teller, Woods, and even Tibbets, but not Szilard? Perhaps, because of what we see on display here, a man so determined to solve a problem that he feels he must do so without having to deal with all the personal and military protocols that stand in his way. When you combine that story with his personal romance of Trude Weiss, you get a palpable depth that you might not appreciate otherwise. It's the thoughtful and touching book and lyrics by Danny Ginges and music and lyrics of Philip Foxman that will really grab you. And, also the performances of a splendid cast.

Zachary Allen Farmer has the right sort of intellectual passion to play Szilard with amazing clarity. And, he's nicely matched vocally with Ann Hier as Trude. Together, they give the story an honest, emotionally charged undercurrent that makes it something significantly more than just a series of moments in history brought to life on stage. Farmer's soulful sound and Hier's full-bodied richness lend real charm to the show. Reynaldo Arceno is seriously funny as Nobel Prize winner Enrico Fermi, who makes his point of view crystalline clear during "There Are Lines." Ryan Scott Foizey is also very good as Arthur Compton, a man of deep religious convictions, who is stuck with being the intermediary between the military and these proud and willful scientists. Sean Michael is a bit over the top as the sleazy Edward Teller, and even more so as the hawkish General Groves. Larissa White carries a chip on her shoulder as Leona Woods, but also shows her dedication and understanding of her fellow scientists' fine work as well. Jeffrey Wright is amiably arrogant as both J. Robert Oppenheimer and pilot Paul Tibbets, who flew the Enola Gay. Victoria Valentine handles everything else with considerable panache, and does especially good work when her, White, and Hier deliver a bouncy boogie-woogie send up to start off the second act ("Holes in the Doughnuts").

Skillfully conceived and executed by directors Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy, this is a change of pace for them, but one which allows them the freedom to see what choices will make this musical succeed, and I think they've nailed it. Jeffrey Carter Richards does great work once again on piano and as music director. He's joined onstage by D. Mike Bauer (guitar), Adam Rugo (guitar, keyboards), Eric Bateman (cello), Jake Stergos (bass), Twinda Murphy (violin), and Clancy Newell (percussion). Robert Lippert's scenic design is effective in the way it divides the space, and his lighting scheme is particularly well done. It' all enhanced by Kimi Short's period props and Sarah Porter's costumes.

ATOMIC is an artistic triumph! New Line Theatre has succeeded in putting together a production that does this piece the justice it deserves. There's warmth, humor, tension, and pathos to be found here, and it's all been done with precision and care. Enjoy it at The Marcelle through June 25, 2016!

Photo credit: Jill Ritter Lindberg

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