by Gwyn McAllister
The Vineyard Playhouse is taking some chances this year by presenting a season of plays with either social or political relevance. The current production, Copenhagen, may be the riskiest by far in terms of alienating potential theater goers. Its subject matter hardly sounds like the stufff of entertainment - a meeting between two reknowned atomic scientists at the start of WWII. However, this dramatic telling, and retelling, and retelling of a significant moment in history proves to make for a very moving and fascinating evening - and you might even learn something.The playwright Michael Frayn is probably best know for his long-running farce Noises Off. Like that popular comedy, Copenhagen gives the audience three different views of the same (or similar) scenario. And, like the former, this historical drama really involves the audience by introducing elements of uncertainty that leave the final answers to the viewer. Honestly, you don't need to know much, if anything about theoretical physics, or even history, to appreciate the questions regarding motive that are the core of this play. And, the Playhouse has thoughtfully provided a helpful scientific timeline in the program that will also give you a brief lesson in physics before the lights go down.
Playing through Aug. 18 Tuesdays & Wednesdays 7 PMThursdays, Fridays & Saturdays 8 PMMatinee on Thursday August 16 at 3 PM
Serious theater
It speaks well not only for the theater company, but for theater goers on the Vineyard in the summer that ambitious, serious drama like "Copenhagen" is out there for us. Congratulations to both.
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