By Michele Markarian

“Galileo’s Daughter” – Written by Jessica Dickey. Directed by Reena Dutt. Presented by Central Square Theater and WAM Theatre, 450 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, through December 8.

“A play is a very good way to learn something”, says Maria Celeste to her father, Galileo. We learn that Galileo, in addition to being a scientist, has fathered three illegitimate children; his alleged favorite, Maria Celeste, was the one (at least in the play) most interested in his work.  One hundred and twenty-four letters survived between father and daughter, and in the year 2015, a writer (Caroline Kinsolving) has traveled to Italy, to the Museo Galileo, to research them for a play she is writing. In her backpack are also divorce papers that she seems unwilling to sign.

Read more “A Fascinating and Frustrating “Galileo’s Daughter””