Sunday, February 16, 2025
February 16, 2025

Trio to perform ‘Copenhagen’ at library 

A conversation among physicists, Nobel laureates or otherwise, may seem unlikely fodder for a compelling dialogue-driven drama.  

But with the balance of global power seemingly in their hands –– and with the backdrop of the Second World War and the birth of the atomic age –– audiences can expect to be captivated by a secret confab between physicists Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg. On Saturday, Jan. 25, islanders are invited to a performance of playwright Michael Frayn’s Copenhagen presented by Scott Hylands, Chris Humphreys and Sue Newman at the Salt Spring Public Library. 

The play is something of a Thucydidean effort from Frayn, perhaps best known for the often-staged (and film-adapted) farce Noises Off –– a tightly paced, joke-filled romp through the backstage antics of an ill-prepared theatre company. 

“But this ‘Copenhagen’ is a completely different part of the forest,” said Hylands. “It’s dazzlingly written, and provocative, with a moral and ethical dilemma, fiercely argued: should your personal morality have sway over the ethical decisions of the country you’re in?” 

For Bohr and Heisenberg, the question was far from academic. As hostilities escalated, the men found themselves on opposite sides of the war; the play’s focal point is a real meeting between the two that took place in Nazi-occupied Denmark in 1941 –– an event still shrouded in some mystery.  

Longtime friends, Heisenberg had been a student of Bohr’s, and at the time of the titular meeting he worked for the allies, while Heisenberg was researching atomic technology for Germany. That Bohr’s research at Los Alamos was instrumental to the building of the atomic bomb –– and that the Nazis were ultimately unable to weaponize the atom –– is undisputed. But the substance of discussion between the two deeply connected and undeniably brilliant men that day in Copenhagen has been the subject of speculation, practically since the war ended. 

“The emotional connection and the fondness between these two men was very powerful,” said Hylands. “The big debate centres on ‘if we knew what it would do, would we stop it being done?’” 

In the play, Hylands said, Heisenberg has the terrible problem that he wants to stay in charge of German science after the war; he’s no Nazi, Hylands said, but he’s under their control. 

“It’s for the love of science, and he’s trying to protect himself,” said Hylands. “And Bohr is there asking questions.”  

In Copenhagen, Frayn has set up the debate so that there is shared cultural identity, shared passions, even love between the two men –– now weighing the enormity of their shared responsibilities since, as Hylands points out, “both of these men have the ability to kill everybody on Earth.” 

Hylands, Humphreys and Newman –– playing the part of Bohr’s wife Margrethe –– will present the play in two acts, as a scripted reading; Hylands expressed confidence the audience will find great satisfaction in both the quality of the material and in the actors’ abilities to convey it. 

“All three of us are what one might call ‘steeped and experienced’ in our trade,” chuckled Hylands, pointing to both his and Humphreys’ careers –– and warning islanders they would underestimate the acting portion of Newman’s “triple threat” credentials at their own peril. 

“Sue is sort of a Salt Spring icon, who has contributed any number of ways to the island’s culture life,” he said. “She’s so well-known as a singer and dancer, of course, but she’s also such an evocative actor.” 

The performance is $10 at the door, and begins in the library’s community room at 1:30 p.m. 

Sign up for our newsletter and stay informed

Receive news headlines every week with our free email newsletter.

Other stories you might like

Theatre Alive invites AGM input under new director

A long-running performing arts organization is undergoing another metamorphosis as Maggie O’Scalleigh takes the reins of the Salt Spring Theatre Alive Society. Chris Humphreys had...

Theatre Alive season opens with The Children

Drama fans will be happy to know that a long-running Salt Spring theatre company is both alive and well and ready for its first...

Fundraiser set up for Scott Hylands’ cancer drug treatment

The family of a man who lived on Salt Spring from 1990 to 2015 has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for a...

Shakespeare inspires summer play program

ExitStageLeft and Graffiti Theatre will satisfy thirsty fans of the stage this summer with presentation of two original works at a custom-built outdoor venue.  The...

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here