[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY’s production of SINGULARITIES or the Computers of Venus, written and directed by Laura Stribling.
What a fascinating subject for a play. Science, the stars and the phenomenal contribution, often unheralded, of women in astronomy. But this remarkable and brilliant play isn’t just about their contributions, as vast and important as they were. It’s also about the women themselves. Or rather, pieces of them. The incredible things they accomplished were just one part of them after all, in spite of their sacrifices and the absence in their lives of what would have been considered ‘normal’ in the 1800s the 1900s, and even more recently. That is marriage, babies…you know, what is expected of females. But these women would never have easily ‘fit in’ regardless of their chosen professions. They were all gay and being openly gay a hundred years ago or two hundred, or even two decades ago would have made their lives impossible to live. So some chose science instead of love, some chose to live a lie and marry anyway, and some were blessed with both science and love and a place in their world of discovery.
This is a beautiful play full of deeply felt performances. These remarkable women were brilliant and funny and heartbreakingly earnest about their work. They discovered stars and universes and comets and nebulas. They named the things we take for granted every day hurtling around above our heads. They didn’t always get the credit of course, but even without it, they felt the privilege of being able to work at what they loved.
Singularities is the kind of play that stays with you and not just because of these incredible women. But because Laura Stribling was driven to write this poetic, funny, incandescent and deeply moving play covering three time periods and set in the same place…an observatory. As the play flits back and forth between times, these amazing women move like ghosts betwixt them, replaying their most pivotal and heartbreaking moments for us. Reminding us of love, of yearning and of the impossibility of fate and lives we are born to. Their echos seep into the present life of the last astronomer of the three, almost feeding her accomplishments. In the now, she has finally been able to push past the crushing betrayal she suffered by her former mentor when he stole her discovery as a young and naive astronomer. She meets and falls hard for a woman who then almost breaks her again for the very same reason. All the while deftly explaining the mysteries of the universe and beyond as she seduces us all.
These masterful and utterly brilliant performances had me in tears, then laughing with them, then breathless and aching for them and their losses. What incredible actresses. So light and fierce and truthful. So transparent and heartfelt these rare talents are that time seemed to stand still as we watched them…just as they convincingly explained to us all how time actually works.
This is a play that’s not easy to sum up in a few clever sentences. It’s scientific yes, but it’s also intensely spiritual too. Although I know there are many scientists who would say they are deeply spiritual and the two things can and do co-exist. After all, math can’t explain everything.
Singularities or the Computers of Venus is a truly gorgeous play performed by a group of gifted, mesmerizing actresses. How incredible it must be for Laura Stribling to be able to direct the first staging of her own play. What a gift for her and, as it turns out, for us as well.
Singularities or the Computers of Venus was developed as part of Under Construction Three and was part of the Road Theatre’s Summer Playwrights Festival before being selected to be a part of this year’s season.
I cannot recommend Singularities or the Computers of Venus highly enough. It’s a magical, mystical, astronomical history lesson, full of passion and love beautifully realized characters and wonderful, sweetly defined relationships and meaningful lives. I felt so grateful to have spent time with them all and wished I could have known them. For a writer to create vivid complete people who we can love so completely in such a short time…isn’t that a rare genius!?
Tickets:
Where:
The Road on Magnolia
10747 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
When:
April 26 – June 2
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 2pm
The Cast
The cast of SINGULARITIES or the Computers of Venus will feature (in alphabetical order); Blaire Chandler as “Julia,” Avery Clyde as “Caroline,” Susan Diol as “Maria,” Lizzy Kimball as “Lena,” Noelle Mercer as “Elizabeth,” and Krishna Smitha as “Sophia.”
The Design Team
Scenic Design by Brian Graves; Lighting Design by Derrick McDaniel; Sound Design by David B. Marling; Projection Design by Ben Rock; Costume Design by Jenna Bergstraesser. The Production Stage Manager is Maurie Gonzalez. The Producers are Taylor Gilbert and Danna Hyams.