"Searching for Galileo's Daughter" - by Jessica Dickey - 4th Wall Stage Company (Worcester, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Jerry Bisantz as "Galileo/Others" with Sandy Clancy as Galileo's "Daughter" in a scene from "SEARCHING FOR GALILEO'S DAUGHTER" by Jessica Dickey, from the 4th Wall Stage Company in Worcester, MA. through March 23, 2025. Photo Courtesy 4th Wall Stage Company)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“Something complex has no predictable outcome and therefore cannot be necessarily solved with method, observation and application."
- ("Maria Celeste") / Jessica Dickey
4th Wall Stage Company
Presents Jessica Dickey's
"SEARCHING FOR GALILEO'S DAUGHTER"
Written by Jessica Dickey
Produced and Directed by Barbara Guertin
Cast Includes: Robbin Joyce as "The Writer," Sandy Clancy as "Daughter/Others," Jerry Bisantz as "Galileo/Others"
Additional Creative Team:
Technical Director - Eric L'Ecuyer; Dramaturg - Lydia Cochran; Stage Manager - Marquis Wilson; ASM/Concessions - Alexis Guertin.
Performances:
March 14, 2025 through March 23, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
Worcester Historical Museum, 30 Elm Street, Worcester, MA
TICKETS: Call # 508-951-2665 or visit www.4thwallstagecompany.org
ORDER TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Coinciding with Women's History Month, 4th Wall Stage Company presents the insightful look at the unique relationship between a father and child in "SEARCHING FOR GALILEO'S DAUGHTER" now playing in Worcester.
Written by Jessica Dickey, the one-act play (presented here as two acts) focuses on the relationship between Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de' Galilei (1564-1642) - aka “Galileo Galilei” - and his daughter who would later be known by her convent name as Maria Celeste.
(Editor's Note: This play was recently staged as "GALILEO'S DAUGHTER" at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA. but has since been re-titled "SEARCHING FOR GALILEO'S DAUGHTER" by the author. The reason for the change, according to 4th Wall producer/director Barbara Guertin, was to avoid any potential confusion with the book by the same name by David Sobel and to better reflect the overall journey undertaken by playwright Jessica Dickey's central character simply referred to as "The Writer.")
Galileo actually had three children “out of wedlock” and, due to their illegitimate births, the two daughters were seen as “unmarriageable” and thus sent to the convent of San Matteo in Arcetri for the rest of their lives.
In a captivating portrayal by actress Sandy Clancy, "SEARCHING FOR GALILEO'S DAUGHTER" focuses on the life of daughter Virginia who took the name “Maria Celeste” upon entering the convent.
In the 4th Wall Stage Company production, Jerry Bisantz plays Maria’s loving father, famed astronomer, engineer and physicist “Galileo.”
Both Bisantz and Clancy successfully portray multiple characters throughout the story (with Clancy simply outstanding comedically), occasionally working at an accelerated pace.
The set outlay is kept simple within the black box space and with minimal set pieces used, but the entire performance space is well utilized as staged by director Barbara Guertin.
Using this minimalist approach, the story of GALILEO'S DAUGHTER is revealed, maneuvering us back and forth in time between Tuscany of present day and the 1600’s.
(Photo: Robbin Joyce as "The Writer," with Sandy Clancy as Galileo's "Daughter" - aka "Maria Celeste" - in a scene from "SEARCHING FOR GALILEO'S DAUGHTER" by Jessica Dickey, from the 4th Wall Stage Company in Worcester, MA. through March 23, 2025. Photo Courtesy 4th Wall Stage Company)
From the information as conveyed by playwright Jessica Dickey, Maria presumably adored her father and was equally captivated by everything he studied.
Maria sees herself as more Galileo’s assistant and, in a later century, she might well have proven herself his apprentice or even his heir apparent.
However, the time in which they exist makes that impossible as Galileo himself draws ire for some of his groundbreaking theories which are considered heresy, not science.
There is a sense of a shared genuine affection expressed by actors Bisantz and Clancy, which shines through in their interactions on stage.
To protect his daughter, Galileo sends Maria to live at the convent.
Although they would mostly be physically separated for the rest of their lives, Maria, as sensitively depicted by Clancy, never stopped loving her father unconditionally, even when that separation became intolerable for her.
Their story becomes the source of inspiration for newly separated playwright simply known as “The Writer” (Robbin Joyce) who has come to Italy to research their remarkable story.
Impressive as the Writer, Joyce guides us through the Writer’s story as she runs (literally and figuratively) into obstacle-after-obstacle while researching the story.
Eventually, the story of GALILEO'S DAUGHTER is recounted to her and to us.
(Photo: Jerry Bisantz as "Galileo/Others" with Sandy Clancy as Galileo's "Daughter" in a scene from "SEARCHING FOR GALILEO'S DAUGHTER" by Jessica Dickey, from the 4th Wall Stage Company in Worcester, MA. through March 23, 2025. Photo Courtesy 4th Wall Stage Company)
Jessica Dickey has constructed a thoughtful, sincere, kindhearted play in "SEARCHING FOR GALILEO'S DAUGHTER" that focuses much of its story on faith.
There are numerous dialogues (eloquently emoted by Robbin Joyce as “The Writer”) of historical artifacts and ephemera related to both the real Galileo and Maria that are so descriptive one almost can see the objects appear.
Other theatre troupes might choose to explore providing visuals of the objects described, but here Dickey's text allows the listener to use more of their imagination as to what these items might actually look like.
The play also explores the concept of forgiveness (mostly between a daughter and her father) and the price a father must pay for speaking the truth in a time when none choose to accept it (quite possibly Galileo’s greatest legacy).
"SEARCHING FOR GALILEO'S DAUGHTER" at 4th Wall Stage Company continues in Worcester until March 23rd and, as much as Galileo explored the heavens, this is a play that well explores the heart.
For more information and tickets, contact 4th Wall Stage Company at # Call # 508-951-2665 or visit www.4thwallstagecompany.org
ORDER TICKETS
Approximately one hour, 15 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
When a playwright’s life is turned upside down, she travels to Florence to study the letters between Galileo and his daughter Marie Celeste, who is forced to join a convent after her father’s earth-shattering controversies.
Captured in the letters are her strength of will and own genius as she secretly assists her father in furthering his discoveries about the shape of the universe, inspiring a path forward for the Playwright.
Alternating between Tuscany of present day and the 1600’s – and the liminal space between playwright and audience – Jessica Dickey has crafted a play examining faith, forgiveness, and the cost of speaking the truth.
ABOUT 4TH WALL STAGE COMPANY
4TH WALL STAGE COMPANY became a reality in 2010 and staged its first production in 2011. The mission of 4TH WALL STAGE COMPANY is to present live stage theatrical productions which are of enduring interest and which inspire, challenge, and entertain both artists and audiences. The goal is to attract audiences by providing roles to actors and actresses which are compelling and rewarding and help them to realize their full potential as artists as they explore ideas and emotions which speak to our common humanity. 4TH WALL STAGE COMPANY is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization and goals include outreach to other artists, cultural organizations, and educational institutions throughout Massachusetts while concentrating around home base of Central Massachusetts.
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box # 20034
Worcester, MA. 01602
