An overwrought and underwhelming solo show that cloyingly recounts the life of a complicated genius
Albert Einstein is back from the beyond to tell his truth and, to do so, he must whisk his audience away to war-torn Berlin in 1914. The German theoretical physicist, played in this one-man performance by playwright Jack Fry, is best known for his theory of relativity, but was highly influential in several other scientific fields and faced numerous obstacles throughout his life. His theories were challenged relentlessly; his strained relationship with his wife impacted his son heavily; and he struggled against antisemitism as a Jewish intellectual in the public eye when the Nazis rose to power. You’d imagine that all these trials would make for a gripping narrative, but unfortunately Einstein! A Genius in Tumultuous Times, contains no such genius nor believable tumult.
Fry’s writing, instead of hitting a comedic mark, winds up belittling the audience, whether through cringe-inducing crowd interactions, attempts to relate to popular culture (“I was like the Taylor Swift of scientists”) or pointing out the obvious (“Do you understand me? This is important!”). The research for the script is thorough, there’s no denying it, but Fry tries to pack in so much that he fails to create a story that is dramatically compelling.
First performed in America in 2014, Einstein! claims to be “the longest-running non-stop show in Los Angeles”, but this accolade proves pertinent for the 85-minute play in all the wrong ways. Fry often stumbles upon awkward pauses between and even in the middle of lines, as if reciting the play by rote. There are grammatical errors in the promotional material and the playtext (at one point Albert narrates while reading a newspaper brandished with the word ‘intrepidation’ instead of trepidation). And overall, it’s sloppy. Most of the climactic dialogue can be boiled down to two remarks: “My theory… is correct!!” and “My theory… is wrong??” Plus, Fry’s voice work as young son Hans and wife Mileva is awkward, as is the painfully stereotypical German accent that weighs down the entire performance.
© George Rand Photography
A handout states that “the play takes place in and out of space and time”. Sure enough, director Tom Blomquist’s production is both scattered and myopic, overly pigeonholing in the way it bombards us with facts and amateurishly broad in its attempts at pathos. Thankfully there are many other means to learn about the titular Jewish icon, because it doesn’t take a genius to realise this particular theatrical offering isn’t one of the worthwhile ways.
By Maia Kahn
Photos by Zé Castle Photography unless otherwise stated
Einstein! A Genius in Tumultuous Times runs until Sunday 13 September. 7.30pm, 3pm (Sun only). £20, £15 concs. Playground Theatre, London, W10 6RQ. einsteintheplay.com