THE HALF-LIFE OF MARIE CURIE • St. Louis Actors' Studio

Polish-born Maria Skłodowska-Curie, better known as Marie Curie, was a brilliant physicist and chemist. In 1903 the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded Curie, her husband Pierre, and Henri Becquerel the Nobel Prize in Physics for their shared research in “radiation phenomena”, making her the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize. In 1911 she was awarded another Nobel Prize, in Chemistry this time, for the discovery of radium and polonium, earning her the distinction of being the only woman to win twice, and the only person to win in two different scientific disciplines. But that same year, an affair with a married man landed her in scandal. Her husband had died years earlier, but that didn’t matter. Curie’s adoptive home of France maligned her as a wicked, foreign homewrecker. Curie’s good friend, Hertha Ayrton, an electrical engineer and suffragette who was notable in her own right, came to the rescue and sped Curie away to her seaside home in England to escape the constant hounding from the public and press. This is the setting for St. Louis Actors' Studio’s current offering, co-produced with The Orange Girls theatre company, featuring Meghan Baker as Marie Curie and Michelle Hand as Hertha Ayrton.

Marie Curie (Meghan Baker)
and Hertha Ayrton (Michelle Hand).
Photo credit: Patrick Huber

The Orange Girls strove to find artistically challenging work for female actors, directors and designers, and it's fitting that they are co-producing Half-Life, since Baker and Hand (along with Brooke Edwards) were the founders of the company. The real-life chemistry (no pun intended) between these two actors is evident, and greatly elevates a play that keeps its characters confined to rather narrow registers. With both women excelling in the male-dominated arena of science, Curie and Ayrton could relate to one another on levels that few others could, and the slings and arrows that accompanied their successes made their alliance all the more vital. Hand’s sharp wit and outspoken nature plays well off of Baker’s melancholy, and watching them interact with each other is most engaging. But while there’s no question concerning the gender-biases they faced, playwright Lauren Gunderson's intentions are undisguised, reiterating these issues without providing much depth of character, and little exploration of what sparked their lofty scientific pursuits.

Hertha Ayrton (Michelle Hand)
and Marie Curie (Meghan Baker).
Photo credit: Patrick Huber

Luckily, Baker and Hand capably breathe as much life into the characters as the script allows, and director Nancy Bell works in some nice staging to give the play some movement. Patrick Huber’s set design was inspired by Anselm Kiefer’s Für Gregory Corso (currently on display at the St. Louis Art Museum), and was artfully lit by Denisse Chavez. Kristi Gunther’s sound design kept the proceedings grounded along with some nice touches like a clicking sound reminiscent of a Geiger counter, and Teresa Doggett’s costumes reflected early 20th century fashions.

The performances, creative touches and direction make this worth checking out, but Gunderson’s play doesn’t give these trailblazers the radiance they deserve. The Half-Life of Marie Curie is at The Gaslight Theater until the 19th.

Marie Curie (Meghan Baker)
and Hertha Ayrton (Michelle Hand).
Photo credit: Patrick Huber

THE HALF-LIFE OF MARIE CURIE

Written by Lauren Gunderson

Directed by Nancy Bell*

The Gaslight Theater, 358 N. Boyle Ave.

through April 19 | tickets: $62.13 - $67.40

Performances Thursdays to Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm.

Cast

Marie Curie: Meghan Baker

Hertha Ayrton: Michelle Hand*

Crew

Managing Producer: Kristi Gunther

Stage Manager. Amy J. Paige*

Set Design: Patrick Huber

Lighting Design: Denisse Chavez

Sound Design: Kristi Gunther

Costumes Design: Teresa Doggett

Props Design: Maria I. Straub-David 

Dresser: Lexy Witcher

Technical Director: Joshua Ortega

Scenic Paint: Andy Cross

Light Board Operator: Elena Garcia

Poster Art: Sophie Binder

House Manager: Lilian Claire Dodenhoff

* Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States