Image: Scott Mackenzie as Albert Einstein in Einstein: Master of the Universe photograph by Ben Fon.
There was no shortage of drama in the life of Albert Einstein. Yes, he is considered one the greatest intellects of human history and yes his theories of how the universe function fundamentally altered our understanding of it but he was a person too. He was a flawed person, whose obsession, eccentricity and ambition were both a key to his success and the source of a troubled personal life. Human emotion and relationships cannot be reduced to a series of laws, equations and testable hypotheses. Not yet at least. For the time being, that roll still falls to art and with both humour and heart, Einstein: Master of the Universe, looks not just at Einstein the mind, but Einstein the man.
Master of the Universe hones in on the cost born by Einstein’s personal life as a result of his professional ambition. His neglect of his first wife and family are well known as was his propensity to strive after all that was unobtainable. This was as true with regards to women as it was to science but as if often true with those who accomplish great feats, personal indiscretions are easily forgotten and this production does a good job of putting those personal costs front and centre.
The costs are born, unsurprisingly by the loving partner, played brilliantly by Jessica Condon. Scott Mackenzie is also very good in the title role, bringing a bumbling and neurotic touch to man known almost solely for his genius. They were supported by a strong cast and simple set that used projections and props with great efficiency to create a versatile and interesting staging. The live band backstage right brought a fantastic energy and richness to music, which was infectious and true to form of what audiences have come to expect from such musical theatre offerings. It has its dark moments like Condon’s final departure and its moments of humour, none better than the anthem of the patent office clerks.
The German accents that some characters adopted inconsistently and poorly could easily have been lost without taking anything away from the characters. They gave some of the characters a caricatured comedy that was unlikely intended and took away from what was a good ensemble performance overall.
Though it won’t upset many, the creative licence taken with the facts of Einstein’s life were another unnecessary flourish. The man’s life was dramatic enough without painting his second wife Elsa as a more ordinary mistress rather than a complicated relationship with his cousin or presenting the giving of his Nobel prize money to his first wife as a mea culpa rather than as a condition of their divorce.
For all its flaws, much like its principal subject, Einstein: Master of the Universe leaves you with positive memories and its key message stuck in your head. Instead of E=mc2 you get a ringing chorus. It’s a fun and entertaining musical adaptation of the great man’s life.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Einstein: Master of the Universe
Music, Book and Lyrics by Jess Newman
Director: Daniel Czech
Assistant Director and Choreographer: Nicholas Kyriacou
Musical Direction: Taylen Furness
Set Design: Robert Smith
Scenic Projection Art and Animation: Jack Crosby
Lighting Design: Nick Glenn
Costume Design: Lucy Wilkins
Stage Manager: Imogen Titmarsh
Assistant Stage Manager: Elizabeth Howells
Social Media Manager: Keshia Contini
Cast: Scott Mackenzie, Jessica Condon, Stephanie Adams, Lachlan Hewson, Josiah Lulham, Daniel Cosgrove, Jordon Mahar, Mitchell Roberts, James Leone, Alice Batt, Darcey Eagle and Kaori Maeda-Judge
Theatre Works
30 June – 10 July 2016
