[NEohioPAL]QED at Actors' Summit - Another glowing review

Thackaberr at aol.com Thackaberr at aol.com
Fri Jan 19 09:48:15 PST 2007 

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=20
Eccentric free  spirit subject of =E2=80=98QED=E2=80=99
By David Ritchey =20
HUDSON =E2=80=94 Richard  Feynman (1918-88) is the subject of the biodrama=20=
=E2=80=9CQED,=E2=80=9D=20
which is on stage at  Actors=E2=80=99 Summit Theater  through Jan. 28. =20
Feynman was a member  of the Manhattan Project team, the group that develope=
d=20
the atomic bomb. He also  served on the Presidential Rogers Commission, whic=
h=20
investigated the Challenger  disaster of 1986. He played the bongos,=20
frequented topless bars, enjoyed playing  small roles in university theatric=
al=20
productions and received the Nobel Prize in  Physics in 1965. He also held t=
he=20
Richard Chace Tolman professorship in  theoretical physics at California Ins=
titute=20
of Technology. Interestingly,  however, during his long and distinguished=20
career, he only published 37 research  papers. =20
=E2=80=9CQED=E2=80=9D was written by  Peter Parnell. It grew out of a sugges=
tion actor Alan=20
Alda made to Parnell about  Feynman as a topic for a play. Alda went on to=20
play Feynman on Broadway. Parnell  co-produced the TV series =E2=80=9CThe We=
st Wing,=E2=80=9D on=20
which Alda had a role, and wrote  three episodes for the first season of the=
=20
series. =20
Actors=E2=80=99 Summit=E2=80=99s  production features Neil Thackaberry, co-a=
rtistic director=20
of Actors=E2=80=99 Summit, =20
as Feynman.  Thackaberry is alone on the stage for most of the production. H=
e=20
is visited  briefly in both acts by Miriam Field (Jocelyn Roueiheb), a=20
student.  =20
The playwright has  Feynman speak directly to the audience as if we=E2=80=
=99re=20
friends he hasn=E2=80=99t seen for a  long time. Feynman is interrupted by t=
elephone calls,=20
visits from a student and  stomach pains that require he immediately take a=20
pill. =20
The play takes place  in his office on a Saturday morning, when he is=20
preparing to give a lecture on  the topic of =E2=80=9CWhat We Know.=E2=80=
=9D The show is filled with=20
Feynman=E2=80=99s stream of  consciousness as he prepares the lecture, answe=
rs phone=20
calls and readies  himself for a walk-on role in a university production of=20=
=E2=80=9C
South Pacific.=E2=80=9D Famous  as a raconteur, he tells stories of his past=
, leaping=20
from anecdote to anecdote  with characteristically chaotic energy. =20
Feynman is ill with  cancer in one of his kidneys. He debates with the docto=
r=20
and with himself about  whether he should have the cancer removed and risk=20
losing the function of the  kidney. This debate leads to his discussion of=20
religion. Raised in a Jewish  family, he has rejected all religions and is a=
n=20
atheist. But as he faces a  serious illness, he thinks about religion and wh=
at it=20
could mean to him as he  faces the end of his life. =20
Director Wayne  Turney has brought one of Thackaberry=E2=80=99s best perform=
ances to=20
the stage. Turney  is theater savvy and makes the right choices for=20
Thackaberry and for this  production. Thackaberry is at the peak of his powe=
rs in what=20
is essentially a  one-man show. Thackaberry makes Feynman witty, intelligent=
,=20
sentimental and  scared. =20
A one-man show is  difficult for the actor and for the audience, but=20
Thackaberry makes it work. Yet  =E2=80=9CQED=E2=80=9D is still tough going f=
or the audience.  =20
Oh, yes, the title  =E2=80=9CQED=E2=80=9D stands for quantum electrodynamics=
. Feynman was=20
known, in part, for  expanding the theory of QED. =20
For tickets, call (330) 342-0800. =20
David Ritchey has a  Ph.D. in communications and is a professor of=20
communications at The University  of Akron. He is a member of the American T=
heatre=20
Critics Association. =20


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<HTML xmlns:o =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:st1 =3D=20
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<DIV>
<H2 style=3D"MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Eccentric free=
=20
spirit subject of =E2=80=98QED=E2=80=99</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></H2>
<P><SPAN class=3Dtext12><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">By David Ritch=
ey=20
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P>
<P><SPAN class=3Dtext44><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">HUDSON =E2=80=
=94 Richard=20
Feynman (1918-88) is the subject of the biodrama =E2=80=9CQED,=E2=80=9D whic=
h is on stage at=20
Actors=E2=80=99 Summit Theater  through Jan. 28. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P>
<P><SPAN class=3Dtext44><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Feynman was a=20=
member=20
of the Manhattan Project team, the group that developed the atomic bomb. He=20=
also=20
served on the Presidential Rogers Commission, which investigated the Challen=
ger=20
disaster of 1986. He played the bongos, frequented topless bars, enjoyed pla=
ying=20
small roles in university theatrical productions and received the Nobel Priz=
e in=20
Physics in 1965. He also held the Richard Chace Tolman professorship in=20
theoretical physics at California Institute of Technology. Interestingly,=20
however, during his long and distinguished career, he only published 37 rese=
arch=20
papers. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P>
<P><SPAN class=3Dtext44><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">=E2=80=9CQED=
=E2=80=9D was written by=20
Peter Parnell. It grew out of a suggestion actor Alan Alda made to Parnell a=
bout=20
Feynman as a topic for a play. Alda went on to play Feynman on Broadway. Par=
nell=20
co-produced the TV series =E2=80=9CThe West Wing,=E2=80=9D on which Alda had=
 a role, and wrote=20
three episodes for the first season of the series. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P>
<P><SPAN class=3Dtext44><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Actors=E2=80=
=99 Summit=E2=80=99s=20
production features Neil Thackaberry, co-artistic director of Actors=E2=80=
=99 Summit,=20
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P>
<P><SPAN class=3Dtext44><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">as Feynman.=20
Thackaberry is alone on the stage for most of the production. He is visited=20
briefly in both acts by Miriam Field (Jocelyn Roueiheb), a student.=20
 </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P>
<P><SPAN class=3Dtext44><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The playwright=
 has=20
Feynman speak directly to the audience as if we=E2=80=99re friends he hasn=
=E2=80=99t seen for a=20
long time. Feynman is interrupted by telephone calls, visits from a student=20=
and=20
stomach pains that require he immediately take a pill. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P>
<P><SPAN class=3Dtext44><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The play takes=
 place=20
in his office on a Saturday morning, when he is preparing to give a lecture=20=
on=20
the topic of =E2=80=9CWhat We Know.=E2=80=9D The show is filled with Feynman=
=E2=80=99s stream of=20
consciousness as he prepares the lecture, answers phone calls and readies=20
himself for a walk-on role in a university production of =E2=80=9CSouth Paci=
fic.=E2=80=9D Famous=20
as a raconteur, he tells stories of his past, leaping from anecdote to anecd=
ote=20
with characteristically chaotic energy. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P>
<P><SPAN class=3Dtext44><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Feynman is ill=
 with=20
cancer in one of his kidneys. He debates with the doctor and with himself ab=
out=20
whether he should have the cancer removed and risk losing the function of th=
e=20
kidney. This debate leads to his discussion of religion. Raised in a Jewish=20
family, he has rejected all religions and is an atheist. But as he faces a=20
serious illness, he thinks about religion and what it could mean to him as h=
e=20
faces the end of his life. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P>
<P><SPAN class=3Dtext44><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Director Wayne=
=20
Turney has brought one of Thackaberry=E2=80=99s best performances to the sta=
ge. Turney=20
is theater savvy and makes the right choices for Thackaberry and for this=20
production. Thackaberry is at the peak of his powers in what is essentially=20=
a=20
one-man show. Thackaberry makes Feynman witty, intelligent, sentimental and=20
scared. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P>
<P><SPAN class=3Dtext44><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A one-man show=
 is=20
difficult for the actor and for the audience, but Thackaberry makes it work.=
 Yet=20
=E2=80=9CQED=E2=80=9D is still tough going for the audience.  </SPAN></=
SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P>
<P><SPAN class=3Dtext44><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Oh, yes, the t=
itle=20
=E2=80=9CQED=E2=80=9D stands for quantum electrodynamics. Feynman was known,=
 in part, for=20
expanding the theory of QED. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P>
<P><SPAN class=3Dtext44><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">For tickets, c=
all=20
</SPAN></SPAN><st1:phone o_x003a_ls=3D"trans" phonenumber=3D"$6342$$$"><SPAN=
=20
class=3Dtext44><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">(330)=20
</SPAN></SPAN><st1:phone o_x003a_ls=3D"trans" phonenumber=3D"$6342$$$"><SPAN=
=20
class=3Dtext44><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">342-0800</SPAN=
></SPAN></st1:phone></st1:phone><SPAN=20
class=3Dtext44><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY:=20=
Arial">.=20
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p=
></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=3Dtext79><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">David Ritchey=20=
has a=20
Ph.D. in communications and is a professor of communications at The Universi=
ty=20
of Akron. He is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association.=20
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPA=
N></P></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>

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