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Copenhagen centres around the mysterious visit of physicist Werner Heisenberg to the Copenhagen home of Niels Bohr, his old mentor. Heisenberg was in a potentially powerful position in the German nuclear program. Bohr on the other hand was half-Jew, still a highly respected physicist, but in a dangerous position in occupied Denmark. What did these two men say to each other? Why did Heisenberg go? What did he hope to gain? The play explores these questions through the reminiscences of Heisenberg, Bohr and Bohr's wife, all now dead. They go over and over the fateful evening, discussing it and re-enacting it, trying to remember and to understand. The dialogue is filled with physics, complementing and describing the emotional relationships in a complex way. Although some familiarity with quantum physics might assist the audience member, even a novice should enjoy the interplay between the physics of atoms and the physics of people. A three-hander such as this requires strong performances, and these are evident in spades. The staging is extremely simple, allowing the full focus of the production to fall upon the performances. The action takes place in the round, giving the play a very intimate feel which suits the relationships between the characters perfectly. Colin Burnie as Bohr is perfectly cast as the fatherly figure, often described by Heisenberg as the Pope of theoretical physics. He is protective of his protégé but also forcefully sticks by his own interpretations of the physics and events. Pransanna Purwanarajah gives an excellent performance as Heisenberg, trapped in his own Uncertainty Principle, not able to know both what he did and why he did it at the same time, but still struggling for understanding. Completing the triptych is Laura Murray as Bohr's wife Margrethe, bringing the theory back down to the human level, passionate in her support of her husband and her interpretation of the events of 1941. The relationships seem completely natural, the arguments are determined and passionate, the play captivating. Some performances are already sold out, but if you can snag a ticket then this is not to be missed. Jo Charman, 04.02.03 |
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