"Legacy of Light" at Theatre in the Round

A historical fiction rom com featuring female scientists? Sign me up! Playwright Karen Zacarías' Legacy of Light, now on stage at Theatre in the Round, is just my kind of play. It has a little of everything - comedy, romance, history, philosophy, poetry, science, fantasy, love, grief. The true story of 18th Century French mathematician and physicist Émilie du Châtelet is told alongside of the story of a fictional modern female scientist, the two stories speaking to each other in expected ways. A smart and funny play about smart, funny, strong women, their ambitions and accomplishments, as well as the obstacles they face because of their sex, is just what we need right now. See this lovely production at Theatre in the Round weekends through March 16.

We begin with Émilie du Châtelet, in her early '40s, at the peak of her career, having raised her children, and enjoying a comfortable companionship with the writer and philosopher Voltaire. She finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, and she knows the danger childbirth poses to a woman of her age at that time (or any woman anytime), so she begins to write like she's running out of time. Meanwhile, present-day scientist Olivia discovers a planet (or something) which she refers to as her baby, and decides that she also wants a human baby. She and her husband Peter are unable have a child, so they hire a surrogate named Millie, a process which brings up conflicting feelings for Olivia. Ideas of motherhood, career, relationships, meaningful work, and legacy swirl around in the ether of this play.

Director Kari Steinbach does well with the time jumps in the script, sometimes letting them overlap, as characters occasionally step out of the play and speak directly to us, or cross time periods to talk to each other. The strong six-person cast embodies all of the characters in both stories, most of them appearing in both time periods. In the end it's clear that this is the story of three women, and the three actors portraying them create clear and complete pictures of them. Rachel Postle makes an excellent heroine in Émilie, strong and vulnerable, funny and heart-breaking. As Olivia, Anna Olson plays all the complexities of being a modern woman and working mother. Emma Tonn is a delight as the quirky Millie, as well as Émilie's daughter. Their male counterparts are pretty great too, David Denninger as Émilie's loyal and loving partner Voltaire, Hawken Paul as her passionate young lover (and also Millie's overprotective older brother), and Mark Sweeney as Olivia's sweet schoolteacher husband.

As I walked across the set before the show and at intermission, I stopped to take it all in. The floor and half-walls surrounding the space are covered in mathematical symbols and equations, drawings of the cosmos, and other fascinating details. This works well for a story set in multiple times and locations, without trying to represent them literally. A chaise lounge and period desk and chairs are the only set pieces. One delightful feature is two large trees in the corner, hung with apples (there are lots of references to Newton) and leaves with words on them, with steps going up the trunks so characters can sit in them (set design by Sadie Ward). The costume design includes both extravagant 18th Century gowns (with matching wild wigs) and modern chic or quirky clothing (designed by Colleen O'Dell). Lastly, when the play is called Legacy of Light you need some memorable lighting, and designer Bill Larsen delivers.

If the history and science books have forgotten the accomplishments of female scientists, I'm glad playwrights like Lauren Gunderson (author of Silent Sky which TRP produced last year, who also wrote a play about Émilie) and Karen Zacarías are telling their stories. Along with Lauren, Karen is quickly becoming one of my favorite living playwrights (TRP produced The Book Club Play two years ago, coming to Lakeshore Players next month, and we've also seen her work at the Guthrie recently). Thanks to Theatre in the Round for bringing us what I believe is the regional premiere of this smart, funny, historical, and relevant play.