The uncertainty of a mismatched, May-December romance permeates 鈥淗eisenberg,鈥 Simon Stephens鈥 2015 play that opened Aug. 31 at Live Theatre Workshop.
The two meet cute: Brash, 40-ish American Georgie Burns (Dallas Thomas) plants a kiss on the back of the neck of a stranger, Alex Priest (Roberto Guajardo), a septuagenarian bachelor sitting alone on a bench in a London train station.
Reserved 鈥 priestly, perhaps 鈥 Alex is flummoxed by the Georgie鈥檚 aggressive, profanity-punctuated language and her insistence on dragging him into conversation. She flits among subjects, stories, professions, truths and lies. He resists, unsure of what the Georgie wants.
The two-hander bears the name of Nobel Prize-winning German physicist Werner Heisenberg whose uncertainty principle helped define physics. No need to channel your inner Sheldon Cooper to delight in 鈥淗eisenberg鈥 鈥 the scientist鈥檚 name is never mentioned.
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Uncertainty, however, is ever present.
鈥淗eisenberg鈥 covers about six weeks of the couple鈥檚 developing relationship. The audience remains uncertain of motives and perceptions. There are tender moments and joyful laughter, as well as uncomfortable moments amplified in the intimate space that is Live Theater Workshop.
The audience peers into Georgie-Alex world. Director Sabian Trout keeps the actors talking to and engaging with one another. Thomas and Guajardo move pieces of the simple set 鈥 two tables, two chairs and a couple of pillows 鈥 between scenes as if they are establishing boundaries or perhaps creating their own world.
Speed-talking Thomas鈥 frenetic hand gestures add to Georgie鈥檚 quirky, irrepressible energy. However, Stephens makes Georgie a rather shallow character that doesn鈥檛 allow Thomas to fully draw out her character鈥檚 motivations or emotions. Thomas could have handled more meat.
Guajardo, speaking with an Irish brogue, gives Alex a weary and wary tone and allows his character to emerge from a cocoon of isolation. Stephens draws a clear, stronger backstory for Alex and Guajardo skillfully brings his character鈥檚 heartbreaks and love of music to the stage.
鈥淗eisenberg鈥 might make you squirm in your seat a few times. However, you鈥檒l giggle and laugh out loud 鈥 that鈥檚 a certainty.