(Christine Power, Thomas Grenon)
by Linda Chin
‘Delicate Particle Logic’ – Directed by Betsy S. Goldman; Darren Cornell (Set Design); Elizabeth Krah (Costume Design); PJ Strachman (Lighting Design); Brad Smith (Sound Design), and Christine Banna (Projection Design). Presented by Flat Earth Theatre at the Mosesian Center for the Arts’ Black Box, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown through October 13
One response to the question “What is the play with the [elusive] title Delicate Particle Logic about?” is as follows: it’s about scientists in Nazi Germany who discover nuclear fission and unleash the atomic age. A more elaborate, and less delicate description is that the play is the story of two scientists, one a German chemist (a man), one an Austrian physicist (a woman), who closely collaborated over decades and across borders and co-discovered the splitting of atoms, but didn’t end up splitting the credit.
Indeed chemist Otto Hahn was the exclusive recipient of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1944, and when credit is given to an additional scientist, it is attributed to his lab assistant Fritz Strassmann. To this day the lesser known co-discoverer of nuclear fission – without a doubt one of the most important scientists of the 20th century – is Lise Meitner. Of note, Dr. Meitner is the second woman in Austria to earn a PhD and the first woman in Germany to be named a full professor, and never fails to credit her nephew Otto Robert Frisch as an important collaborator. In some accounts she is known as the Jewess who carried the secrets to the bomb in her purse to the Allies. In others, the mother of nuclear fission.
With its production of Delicate Particle Logic, Flat Earth Theatre continues its mission of “inspiring the community to question their preconceived notions and expand their perspective…and [creating] thought-provoking theatre that informs and entertains.” Elegantly crafted by playwright Jennifer Blackmer, Delicate Particle Logic is written for a cast of 5 actors: three men and two women. Four of the five member ensemble play the aforementioned scientists: Thomas Grenon (Otto Hahn), Matt Arnold and Michael Lin (Chorus, scientists, soldiers, doctors) and Christine Power (Lise Meitner). The other woman involved in the dramatic discovery of nuclear fission (and of whom little is known) is Edith Hahn, Otto’s wife. Edith was a painter, the mother of their child and supportive wife for decades, yet is barely mentioned in Hahn’s autobiography. Blackmer brings Edith’s story to life; the play is written from her perspective and depicts an imagined visit from Lise Meitner to the institution Edith has been committed to and the deep, warm friendship that may not have really existed.
The intimate size of the Mosesian Center for the Arts’ Black Box requires strong acting, and under Betsy S. Goldman’s thoughtful direction, all members of the ensemble deliver performances that are intelligent and nuanced. This production of Delicate Particle Logic is a reminder how beautiful theater can be – like art and science – when distilled to its essence. Having a simple curtain as backdrop, also a projection screen (set designed by Darren Cornell and projections by Christine A. Banna) adds to Edith’s stark existence in the asylum and the spinning thoughts in her mind. Edith has been stripped of most of her possessions and initially dismissed but then is brightened by the warmth of Lise’s visit. Delicate Particle Logic is a story that is beautifully written, beautifully told. You will be thankful for the opportunity to journey in the creative and brilliant imaginations of artists and scientists and for learning more truths about one of the most important discoveries of the 20th century. For more information and tickets, go to: https://www.flatearththeatre.com/
