astronomy

REVIEW:  Titans of discovery and the wonder of a not so ‘Silent Sky’ at Central Square Theater

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Henrietta Leavitt is so passionately devoted to the stars that she decides to build her entire life around that dream.  What unfolds is a journey much more complex than she ever anticipated.

With illuminative direction by Sarah Shin, Central Square Theater kicks off its new season with Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky continuing live and in person through Sunday, October 5 at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA.  This celestial and biographical production is a Catalyst Collaborative@MIT Production and runs approximately two hours and 15 minutes including one intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

Jenny S. Lee and Max Jackson in Lauren Gunderson’s ‘Silent Sky’ at Central Square Theater Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky boasts awe-inspiring connections about the nature of time and life’s occurrences through the cosmos.  It is inspired by the real life story of historical figure Henrietta Leavitt, portrayed with a distinct drive by Jenny S. Lee.  Leavitt is torn between two worlds and Scenic Designer Qingan Zhang effectively divides Henrietta’s life by a staircase between her warm Wisconsin home which includes populated bookcases, floral arrangements, framed family photos and a piano with Harvard University workspaces and an impressive towering refractor looming overhead to the stars.  Lighting Designer Eduardo M. Ramirez with Projection Designer Michi Zaya showcase inviting and rich landscapes include the immensity of the cosmos and the magnitude of the ocean. In multicolor frocks, flowing skirts, detailed high necklines, tailored suits and formal dress coats, Costume designer Leslie Held elegantly captures the high fashion of the early 20th century progressive era.

Max Jackson in Lauren Gunderson’s ‘Silent Sky’ at Central Square Theater Photo by Nile Scott Studios

One does not need to be familiar with astronomy to appreciate Silent Sky, but astronomy enthusiasts may have a more thorough understanding of some of the production’s finer scientific details.  Delivered with a combination of humor and analysis, Silent Sky explores a broad number of subjects including love, family, the women’s movement, societal expectations, life’s unexpected shifts and what it truly takes for a breakthrough. 

Kandyce Whittingham and Jenny S Lee in Lauren Gunderson’s ‘Silent Sky’ at Central Square Theater Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Silent Sky is fascinating, but its scientific and factual focus at times curtails some of its emotional depth.  Jenny S. Lee as determined Henrietta and Kandyce Whittingham as Henrietta’s devoted and forthright sister Margaret share a heartwarming bond and Whittingham is often maternal towards Henrietta as she relentlessly pursues her dreams.  It also has a unique element of music and dance delivered by Whittingham’s eloquent musical versatility that turns up in significant and unexpected places.

Max Jackson and Jenny S. Lee in Lauren Gunderson’s ‘Silent Sky’ at Central Square Theater Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Max Jackson as dubious Peter Shaw shares jittery and charming chemistry with Lee and it is captivating to see Henrietta not only rise to challenge Peter’s intellectual prowess but Peter’s approach as a bundle of nervous energy to Lee’s direct and sensible delivery.   Lee Mikeska Gardner brings excellent bravado and frequent frank comical moments as Williamina Fleming and Erica Cruz Hernández is bold yet nurturing as American astronomer activist Annie Cannon.  Alongside Lee’s Henrietta, they form a dynamite and fiercely loyal trio ahead of their time and prove that when great minds come together, the sky’s the limit.

Lee Mikeska Gardner, Jenny S. Lee and Erica Cruz Hernández in Lauren Gunderson’s ‘Silent Sky’ at Central Square Theater Photo by Nile Scott Studios

An educational and unconventional work exploring the pursuit of discovery, Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky is not without its twists and turns as Henrietta Leavitt is one to root for as she relentlessly embarks on an inspirational journey to be remembered in the pursuit of light.

With illuminative direction by Sarah Shin, Central Square Theatre kicks off its new season with Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky continuing live and in person through Sunday, October 5 at Central Square Theatre in Cambridge, MA.  This celestial and biographical production is a Catalyst Collaborative@MIT Production and runs approximately two hours and 15 minutes including one intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW:  Wishing upon a ‘Soft Star’ at Boston Playwrights Theatre

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Somewhere in Minnesota, two best friends with a complex history each wish on what is deemed a soft star in the sky.  What develops over time will test the limits of their friendship and much more.

Contemplatively directed by Bridget Kathleen O’Leary, Boston Playwrights Theatre presents Tina Esper’s supernatural drama Soft Star through Sunday, November 24 part of the Boston Playwrights Theatre’s Fall Rep Festival.  This absorbing production runs 85 minutes with no intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

The cast of Tina Esper’s ‘Soft Star’ Photo by Amelia Cordischi

Boston Playwrights Theatre’s Fall Rep Festival features two new productions from living authors taking place on one stage and scenic designer Maggie Shivers continues to make distinctive use of the space for these two vastly different productions.  With fold out compartments that pose as couches, a barbecue grill and shelves, cast members transform the set and props between scenes from a beachside setting to a completely new landscape.  Zachary Connell’s starlit and warm lighting adds an ethereal quality to the production featuring lanterns and luminous creatures boosted by Kai Bolman’s mystical sound design.  Set within the span of the 70’s and 80s, E. Rosser’s colorful costumes depicts fashion trends of the time such as baby doll dresses, keds sneakers, and Henley shirts.

Annika Bolton and Mairéad O’Neill in Tina Esper’s ‘Soft Star’ Photo by Amelia Cordischi

A complex drama of jealousy, isolation, insecurity, secrets and longing, Soft Star is poignant and wistful as Jane and Belle search for a sense of belonging as they contemplate about the direction their lives have taken.  There is a real sense of uncertainty from these individuals as the show progresses. Annika Bolton as Jane, Jesse Kodama as Dick, Mairéad O’Neill as Belle and Kamran Bina as Mitch make up a tightly woven group that also share building tension and passive aggressiveness, especially among Dick and Mitch who are best friends working together as well as a palpable chemistry between Mitch and Jane.

What is wonderfully fascinating about Soft Star is how best friends Annika Bolton as Jane and Mairéad O’Neill as Belle’s connection and priorities mature and evolve over time.  From two coming of age girls to established women, Esper’s script explores the transforming interests of these individuals and at the same time, depicts how some reflections on their lives never change. 

Annika Bolton in Tina Esper’s ‘Soft Star’ Photo by Amelia Cordischi

With an elements of magic and mysticism, Soft Star is an intriguing and imaginative drama fueled by Esper’s layered script which unfolds from a straightforward narrative to how life becomes immensely complicated through circumstances and when other emotions take hold.  Emotions that linger and ripen even as people mature exasperated by a wish. 

Boston Playwrights Theatre presents Tina Esper’s supernatural drama Soft Star through Sunday, November 24 part of the Boston Playwrights Theatre’s Fall Rep Festival.  The show runs 85 minutes with no intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW:  Dreams proceed with caution for Central Square Theater’s illuminating ‘Young Nerds of Color’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

When I first witnessed the hit film Hidden Figures, I was absolutely amazed for a couple of reasons.  In the early 60’s, a team of phenomenal NASA mathematicians were so talented that some astronauts including Neil Armstrong refused to board the space shuttle without their astute calculations.  The other amazing and frustrating detail is that for all that these African-American women accomplished, I had never heard of them or worse, was never taught about them at school.  Hidden Figures stayed with me.  These genius mathematicians made such an indelible impact in the world and yet, I was learning about them for the first time in this film.

‘Young Nerds of Color’ cast and creative team Photo credit to Nile Scott Studios

Directed remarkably by Dawn M. Simmons, Underground Railway at Central Square Theater presents Young Nerds of Color arranged by Melinda Lopez live in person through March 20 at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA and virtually through April 3.  The show is approximately 75 minutes with no intermission.    Click here for more information, tickets, and COVID-19 guidelines.

The night before reviewing Young Nerds of Color, I attended an astronomy group meeting that featured a documentary about a rarely predictable phenomenon.  A professor claimed he knew when the next supernova would occur.  A supernova is when a star explodes and disperses its matter into the galaxy.   It turns out the professor made a tragic miscalculation and the supernova never occurred in the documentary.  However, Young Nerds of Color depicts two beautiful ones thanks to Andrea Sofia Sala’s innovative lighting while also symbolically illuminating some big and impactful ideas such as the discovery that matter from a supernova is directly connected to eyesight. 

Lindsey McWhorter as Portia Long, Daniel Rios Jr as Reinaldo Herrera and DJ Lopez, and Alison Yueming Qu As Chloe Chen Photo credit to Nile Scott Studios

An educational and unconventional play full of discoveries, Young Nerds of Color translates like a flowing and collaborative academic dialogue among geniuses with performances so subtle and convincing that I had to glance back at the program to make sure they were actors and not the actual professionals they are depicting.  A show gathered from 60 interviews with real life scientists, cast members deliver their point of view in their own unique style as they discuss the journey to make their ambitions come to life. 

Ricardo Engermann as Jim Gates, DJ Thomas, Reinaldo Herrera and DJ Lopez Photo credit to Nile Scott Studios

Sponsored in part by MIT, Young Nerds of Color examines the lives of renowned scientists and engineers from diverse backgrounds whose career dreams were more difficult to achieve than they ever expected even before they discovered that dream.   Living in pre-segregated Boston, racism and economic struggles was just a portion of the challenges they faced for being “young nerds of color.”  They all collaboratively take on the role of scientist and educator as they share with the audience and usher in the next generation to proceed toward their dreams with cautious optimism.

Lindsey McWhorter as Portia Long and Karina Beleno Carney as Dr Maria Hernandez Photo credit to Nile Scott Studios

Shelley Barish’s straightforward and illuminated set features two double helixes that might also symbolize that long career ladder and periodic table while Nona Hendryx creates memorable compositions with catchy and cosmic-sounding rhythms and original music.

Some of the cast depicts multiple roles and have engaging chemistry as they portray the journey from childhood experiments fueled by curiosity to those dangerous discoveries that can change the world all while presenting themselves in a way that society might accept so they too might thrive.   I should have learned about this astounding group before now.

Hidden Figures stayed with me and Young Nerds of Color sure does too.

Underground Railway at Central Square Theater presents Young Nerds of Color arranged by Melinda Lopez live in person through March 20 at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA and virtually through April 3.  The show is approximately 75 minutes with no intermission.    Click here for more information, tickets, and COVID-19 guidelines.