The Lightest Element - Hampstead Theatre

We were due last week but it was cancelled for tech issues. Hampstead were great with rescheduling but will be early next month before we make it due to lots going on for us.

Yes, this is an odd biography of Maureen Beattie's (fiercely dignified and inspiringly performed) brilliant astronomer, in that it arguably makes someone else the main character. I liked it nonetheless.

Some spoilers follow. . .

Beattie is authoritative, charismatic and tough as the astronomer who correctly figured out what stars were made of in the twenties, but who faced implacable resistance from Harvard's patriarchal powers-that-be.

Weirdly though, most of the action and agency of the play is about the degree to which Annie Kingsnorth's conservative journalism student will go along with her "House Un-American Activities Committee" boyfriend's plan to stitch up this powerful woman good and proper for being a "pinko."

All the actual decision-making in the play, all the moral quandaries, lie with Kingsnorth's character. Luckily, Kingsnorth is terrific as a student who could go either way. Kingsnorth is wonderful at suggesting she is simultaneously prim and pliant, but also independent-minded; both determinedly conservative but also fair-minded. Her story is the main story and it is exciting.

But it is decidedly odd to write a biography of someone famous, but then give most of the agency to someone else. The Cilla Black Musical is similar, in that all the agency is with Black's boyfriend in that one. At least this feminist play is actually about a female lol.

Anyhow, Beattie and Kingsnorth are great in their respective roles, as are a smorgasbord of talent, including Stefan Cennydd as a twitchy Mr HUAC and Julian Wadham as a contemptuous Mr Patriarchy.

I felt this deserved 3 and a half stars.