The Caltech Playreaders

2016-2017: The 66th Season

All of our readings will be held at 7:30 pm
at the Caltech Athenaeum in the Hall of Associates.

Please note our earlier start time of 7:30 p.m. The doors will open at 7:15.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Pierre and Marie

Adapted by Ron Clark from "Les Palmes de Monsieur Schultz" by Jean Noel Fenwick

Directed by Joanne Doyle

Assistant Director Ashley Stroupe

In a freezing laboratory in Paris in the late 1800s, Pierre and Marie Curie discover uranium, radium, and their love. The play fancifully fleshes out these iconic figures, yet there is the ring of truth as it reveals how research gets done: the tentative steps, the long hours, the blind alleys, the pressure to produce, the battle for funding, the lure of patent opportunities, the scholarly disdain of peers, and the politics that prevent everyone from seeing the obvious. A comedic, sometimes bumbling, romp brimming with love and chemistry.

The video and/or audio recording of this performance by any means whatsoever are strictly prohibited.

Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

Setting: Sorbonne University Science Laboratory in Paris, France, in the 1890's.

Cast of Characters:

Pierre CurieA Scientist
GeorgetteThe Curies' Nanny
ChevrierAcademic Chair
Gustave BemontColleague of Pierre Curie
Marie CurieA Scientist