Friday, March 19th, 2010

New Play Lays Lenin to Rest

Scott Sowers, James Murtaugh, Steven Boyer, Zach Grenier, Peter Maloney, Michael Louis Wells and Polly Lee in the EST/Sloan production of Lenin’s Embalmers by Vern Thiessen, now running at The Ensemble Studio Theatre through March 28. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

Science is on stage once more. Lenin's Embalmers, a new play that opened recently at Manhattan's Ensemble Studio Theatre, looks at two scientists charged with finding a way to preserve Lenin's corpse for posterity. However, the technical challenge of embalming Lenin comes with stakes somewhat higher than establishing a scientific reputation. Working under the orders of Joseph Stalin, the two biochemists involved know that they need to succeed -- or else. We'll talk about the science in the play, and the challenge of adapting a darkly technical topic into a comedy.

courtesy Ensemble Studio Theatre