CROYDEN'S CORNER
by Margaret Croyden
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| Margaret Croyden is a theater reviewer and essayist for the New York Theatre Wire. | |
"QED" Alan Alda in a one man show.
The Vivian Beaumont Theater
The Lincoln Center For the Performing Arts
(212) 362-7000
Reviewed March 18, 2002 by Margaret Croyden
"QED" is abut the last years of the maverick physicist Richard Feynman--Nobel
Prize winner, well respected scientist, atom bomb worker, and the writer of
a popular explanation of quantum electrodynamics; hence "QED." Feynman
was a colorful character and Alan Alda is the actor, in what is essentially
a one-man show, who must capture the varying characteristics and multiple
interests of this original thinker. And do it alone on the stage for two hours.
(there is a bit part by Kellie Overbey as his student).
According to all reports, Feynman was a dynamic personality, and not only
was he brilliant in his work but his interests were wide; he played the drums,
acted in amateur productions, traveled to remote parts of the world, was devoted
to science and scientific thinking, and was an unaffected down to earth personality
who, as they say, was larger than life. To be sure, he was a truly fascinating
character to write about, and Peter Parnell, the author tried to capture his
extraordinary last years in two acts--an admirable goal; he and the director
Gordon Davidson did succeed in getting something original on the stage. And
for that they should be commended.
Alan Alda has a most pleasant personality and it is difficult to fault him
for anything; he is so well known and liked. But unfortunately his personality
works against him as he tries to capture the essence of the scientist. To
be sure, Richard Feynman was Jewish, but Alda exaggerated gestures and body
language are stereotypical of those who think all Jews speak only with their
hands. Feynman did come from a working class family, lived as a youth in Far
Rockaway, but worked himself up to do graduate work at Princeton, and became
a world class scientist. At the same time, he was probably unpretentious and
down to earth. But the man must have had an extraordinary dynamic, and vibrant
personality and a fascinating brain. It is all there in the script--his humor,
his wisdom, his varying pursuits, his logical mind, and most important, his
love of science. And scientific thinking.
Unfortunately Alan Alda is not the man to depict this very complicated personality.
The actor who plays this role must have enormous energy and theatrical charisma;
he must be able to dominate the stage and convince us that he is a man of
intellect, a man with a huge education, and a man with a thrilling capacity
to enjoy drumming, acting, traveling and talking. And a man who had the talent
to make a vital, if not exceptional contribution to physics. Feynman was an
intellectual giant. And that is what we must see on the stage.
Alda is too simplistic, too earth bound, too New Yorkese. His voice is one
tone, rather whining and monotonous; he has no range; he is pleasant, enthusiastic,
funny sometimes and warm; but essentially, he is does not convince us that
he is a world class scientist, a man with a huge intellect and a huge appetite
for life. Though the scientist in real life may have come across as a simple
guy, acting him demands a large and distinctive theatrical presence. He must
convince you that he is, in fact, the dynamic person that the script calls
for--even if you have to be a bit false to the original person. The actor
has to make his depiction of the character a live theatrical event. Alan Alda
is not a great actor. And for this role, that is what is needed.
Nevertheless, Alda tries hard; he even tries to explain physics to us--but
in itself is sleep producing. But it wouldn't have been if the leading man
were more dynamic. Besides it is not physics at the core of the play, but
the man himself, his quest, his enjoyment and love of science.
To his credit, Alan Alda fell in love with Richard Feynman. After reading
a book about Feynman written by his colleague, Alda took the book to Gordon
Davidson at the Mark Taper theater in Los Angeles who, in turn, took it to
Peter Parnell and the script was born. Perhaps this trio should be supported
for trying to bring some intellectuality onto the stage. "QED" plays
Sunday and Monday evenings only-- an unusual arrangement; the night I saw
it the house was completely sold out. And the audience seemed to love it.
[Croyden]
Margaret Croyden's book "Conversations with Peter Brook" will be published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in the Fall.
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