Einstein Comes Through

David Ellenstein is the very capable artistic director of North Coast Rep, and Marc Silver is an accomplished actor. The two are responsible, alas, for Einstein Comes Through.

Marty Burnett's set is a study in realism with its complete kitchen and living area. It is also the subject in surrealism as one painting changes with the mood of the play, and a living-room wall proves to be not what it seems. Bonnie Durben loads the set with props that define actor Hank and his obsession with Albert Einstein. Mike Buckley's lighting design is clean and crisp, while M. Scott Grabau's sound design enhances the production.

Silver's acting talent peeks through the frustration of a script that he and the director were too close to. His portrayal of an actor who's played Einstein too long and as Einstein himself frustrated with the actor offer some nice contrasts. The script, however, ignores much that has been written about Einstein and reveals no deep insights into the great man. The jokes told, both current and aged, appear with great regularity on the internet. Nor do we learn as much as we should have about Hank, the obsessed actor.

This is the first clinker in a long time from a theater that has given us consistently excellent evenings. We wait for A Thousand Clowns and The Bungler, which are next up.