Einstein

Synopsis:

A mind-bending work that plays with time and space in order to explore the life, the work, the contradictions and ethical challenges faced by the world’s greatest physicist.

Character Breakdown:

Three-hander:  3 males.
EINSTEIN  76
EINSTEIN  40 – 66
EINSTEIN  40 – 26

Production History:

World Premiere  1981.  Melbourne Theatre Co., Russell St. Theatre.
Other Productions   1982.  Sydney.  Melbourne Theatre Co. at the Seymour Centre.
1982.  Canberra.  Fortune Theatre Co.
1982.  Melbourne Theatre Co., National Theatre.
1982.  New York.  Melbourne Theatre Co., Summerfare Festival.  Denver.  Melbourne Theatre Co., World Theatre Festival.
1982.  Perth.  The Hole In The Wall Theatre.
1982.  Brisbane.  Queensland Theatre Co., SGIO Theatre.
1982.  Auckland, New Zealand, Mercury 2 Theatre.
1982.  Wellington, New Zealand, Circa Theatre.
1982.  Christchurch, New Zealand, The Court Theatre.
1986.  London.  The Gate Theatre, Notting Hill.
1995.  Paris.  Le Vieux Colombier.  (Staged reading.)                                           

Publication 
1986.  Penguin.
1995.  Lansman Publishers  (French)

Adaptation
1982.  ABC Radio.

Translation  
1995.  French.

Awards   
1982.  Best Stage Play, Australian Writers’ Guild.
1982.  Major Award for Best Script in any Category. Australian Writers’ Guild.

Reviews:

“.. Of all the plays I’ve ever seen, this is one not to be missed.”
Graham Sharp, The Advocate

“.. One of the finest plays written in Australia.  It will remain so..  warm and awesome.. a landmark in Australian literature.”
David Rowbotham

“.. an outstanding work of tremendous dimension and intensity that has the audience catching its breath as it catches what Elisha is doing..”
John Larkin, Sunday Press

“.. unforgettable power and brilliance.. It deserves a much wider showing.”
The Morning Star (London)

“.. dense, cleverly constructed, mind-bending play.. powerful stuff..”
Susan Hayes, City Limits (London)

“.. a noble offering – a compact, moving script asking mighty questions..

“.. grittily intellectual and fiercely emotional.. Elisha writes very well indeed, often with the kind of muscular accuracy which turns a phrase with the precision of a master-craftsman at a lathe..”
John Moses, The Australian

“.. passionate.. stimulating.. a deeply felt script written with intelligence, poetry and humour..”
Variety (Purchase, NY)

“.. exhilarating and highly theatrical.. engrosses and intrigues throughout.”
Nicholas de Jongh, The Guardian (London)

“.. terrifically moving.. the kind of play which moves one to tears.”
Alice Livingstone, The Melbourne Times

“.. shot through with humour.. held me in a vice-like grip throughout..”
Harold Pointer (Christchurch, NZ)

“.. a play of unusual stature..”
Geoffrey Hutton, The Australian

Running-time: 90 minutes.

This play exists only in hard copy:  ISBN 0 148210 5