“The Half Life of Marie Curie” is written by a woman playwright, Lauren Gunderson and directed by a woman, Kym Pappas about two amazing women; one a two time Nobel Peace Prize winner and physicist, Polish (aka Maria Salome Sklodowska-Curie) born scientist Marie Curie and the other Hertha Ayrton, British born mathematician and electrical engineer.
Who best to understand and bring to light the long lasting friendship between two woman than by a woman? And do it point on.
Gunderson has been among the most produced playwrights in the U.S. in recent years. Based on letters between Marie Curie and Hertha Aryton “The Half Life Of Marie Curie” is now in a splendid, no superb production at N.V.A.
Both single with children Hertha (Leigh Scarrett) comes into Marie’s (Rachael Van Wormer) life when she most needs her. Hertha (Phoebe Sarah Hertha Ayrton) offspring of a Jewish-Polish clockmaker father and seamstress mother, eventually found it easier to change her name, her style of dress and her strong support for women, suppressed or otherwise, and became a suffragette to support her beliefs.
Curie, depressed and wracked with scars from her discovery of radium and plutonium, (radioactivity), shunned by society for believing she cavorted with a married man and at wits ends by harrowing attacks of pain, is whisked away by Hertha to her country estate in Dorset, England where the two share secrets and accomplishments in real time, dote on their children and form a lifelong friendship that lasts until their deaths.
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| Leigh Scarrett and Rachael Von Wormer |
Among other things, Hertha, sympathizes and urges Marie not to give in to the nonsense of the Royal British Academy not to come to France to accept her medal, which eventually she will. Both reflect about their marriages, dote on their children (one of Hertha’s is in jail) and how best they can help each other by getting their work recognized, find lab space to work in, and eventually see the results of their inventions.
Rachael Von Wormer, another of San Diego’s finest, as Marie Curie, is equally as effective. Dressed in an all- black (Claire Peterson) pleated dress, (in contrast to Ms. Scarrett’s light blue islet blouse and gray skirt) she is always wearing a frown, rarely smiling. She is a troubled woman whose only pleasure seems to be her children; one a gifted pianist. Her performance is spot on.
Kym Pappas, another strong women’s rights advocate makes all this happen with her excellent direction. In her notes she mentions that this play is for strong, resilient and courageous women.
On the technical side, Curtis Miller, lighting design, Christopher Scott Murillo, set designer, Harper Justus, sound, and French dialect coach, Susanna Peredo Swap, and Kim Strassburger, dramaturg.
In 1911 women struggled for the right to be treated asequals to men. Throughout the years, women have made strong gains but…let’s not be too elated. Me thinks that this current administration is ready to send them back to being citizens non grata. Think of Roe v Wade as one example.
The things that cannot be taken away from Marie Curie and Hertha Ayrton are their inventions and how they helped the world move into the next century.
Hat’s off to New Village Arts for bringing this story to us.
The play runs 90 minutes, give or two, and packs a powerhouse.
See you at the theatre.
Enjoy.
When: Opens Feb. 1 and runs through Feb. 23. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Photo: Daren Scott
Where: Conrad Prebys Theatre at the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center, 2787 State St., Carlsbad
Tickets: $35-$60
Phone: 760-433-3245
Online: newvillagearts.org
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