What Goes Up (excerpt)

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Description

Synopsis:

Bertolt Brecht, living in LA during WW2, is trying to convince Alma Mahler, also an emigre, that he has seen Albert Einstein working as a lift operator at the Beverley Wilshire Hotel.  The pair take a trip in the elevator, but Alma remains skeptical.

She mentions Brecht’s theory to Thomas Mann, yet another emigre, who knew Einstein personally when they were both at Princeton.

Mann dismisses the theory out of hand, but Brecht remains convinced that the Einstein at Princeton is an impostor.

He makes a wager with Alma, and the threesome set off on a train across the continent to meet with the supposed impostor.

A delightful contemplation of identity, fame and image.

Character Breakdown:

4-hander:  1 female, 3 males
ALMA MAHLER-WERFEL  66
BERTOLT BRECHT   44 / WLADISLAW MOES   42 – one actor.
AL STONE   63 / ALBERT EINSTEIN   63 / ALFRED A KNOPF  50 – one actor.
THOMAS MANN   67

Running-time:  70 minutes.

Production History:  Not yet produced.

Excerpt available for download for free.