Scientific Americans

by John Mighton, John Mighton

Jim, a young physicist, moves to an army research facility with his fiancée Carol to continue his post-doctoral studies. The play traces the breakdown of their relationship as he is drawn deeply into military research and she is forced to confront the dangers of her own work in computer science. By layering images and ideas from contemporary science, the play extends the psychological and narrative conventions of realistic theatre.

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

John Mighton, OC is a Canadian author and mathematician. He is the founder of JUMP (Junior Undiscovered Math Prodigies), a charitable organization that works to educate students in mathematics. He is the author of The Myth of Ability (2003) and The End of Ignorance (2007). Mighton is also a playwright, and has been the recipient of two Governor General Awards for his plays which include Possible Worlds, The Little Years, Body & Soul, Scientific Americans, A Short History of Night, and Half Life.

Reviews

[Seven Pesos · Rating 2 out of 5]

This play sounds like a great, smart, interesting read on paper. The setting sounds interesting, the characters sound promising. Unfortunately it's all hollow, underdeveloped, and completely rushed. All the ideas John (seemingly) wants to tackle in this play are dealt with completely superficially, the breakdown of Jim and Carol's relationship feels... forced? They fight about nothing... seriously. What they fight about is barely introduced/developed, and (like so much in this play) had me feeling like I missed key information earlier in the story. Fun fact, I missed nothing. This play is like a building in Disneyland - shiny on the outside, but completely hollow.

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

well written and interesting but would need to see it to get a good feel for it.