Heisenberg serves up a plateful of food for thought, sprinkled with laughs

By JOANNA BRADY

If you like entertainment that spurs conversation afterwards, head over to the Studios of Key West this week for Heisenberg, a quirky, comical, but thought-provoking play. It will have a limited run, so book tickets now!

On the surface, this story sounds familiar. The concept of a May-December romance—the ‘ditzy neurotic youngish ingénue meets crusty old bachelor’ idea has provided inspiration for plenty of plays and films. It is the compelling script of Heisenberg, written by Simon Stephens and delivered by seasoned professionals, that shapes the play into the fresh, original production it is.

Combine these factors on the stage in the hands of a master director like Dennis Zacek, add in the versatile talents of the ever-popular local actor, Mike Mulligan, and Chicago actress Dana Black (who has appeared in TV dramas like Chicago Med), and you have a very successful play—fodder for plenty of discussion. Zacek is artistic director emeritus of Chicago’s Victory Gardens Theater.

The play operates according to The Heisenberg Principle of Uncertainty which considers the multiplicity of alternatives that could shape our lives at every moment. Put certain dissimilar characters together and who knows what kind of potpourri you’ll end up with?

Saucy and sexy Georgie Burns (Dana Black) meets Alec Priest (Mike Mulligan) in a London train station. He is a 75-year old Irish butcher whose life includes waiting for customers, writing 50 lines in his diary every night, admiring seams in meat, and, surprisingly—dancing the tango. Georgie’s life might be equally dull, except for her ungovernable imagination spinning scenarios faster than Alec can take them in. She’s an assassin. No, she’s a waitress. No, she’s the receptionist at a school. No, she’s a con woman. They’re an unlikely pair. She is loud and brash; he’s quiet and private, happy to live out his life in the same monotonous blur he always has.

Undeterred by that, Georgie impulsively looks him up. Once she recovers from the shock of how old Alec is, they begin dating. And yes, a physical romance does develop. Later she has no qualms about putting the touch on him for money to find her estranged son. We saw that one coming; but not what happens afterwards. Mulligan does not disappoint, turning in his usual impeccable performance. (We have seen the Zacek/Mulligan chemistry at work in Blackbird, an intense drama staged here a couple of years ago.) Dana Black’s non-stop monologues in the demanding Georgie role are nothing short of a brilliant tour de force. I hope to see more of this talented young woman in future Key West productions.

Heisenberg, is well worth seeing. This relatively new comedic drama, was a hit Off Broadway a couple of years ago and later enjoyed success on Broadway.

This production team includes Catherine Johnson (Stage Management), Don Lynch (Set Design) and Art Singley and Greg Rue of The Art of Sound (Lighting and Sound).

Heisenberg runs Thurs., Jan 25 through Sun., Jan 28. All performances at 7:30, except Sun., which is at 3:00.  Runs 85 minutes. Prices are $38 general admission, $30 for TSKW members, with a limited number of $55 VIP tickets (priority reserved seating).  Tickets on sale at The Studios of Key West Box Office from 10-4 Tues.-Sat. Or order on-line https://tskw.org/buy-tickets/ or in person. Box-office hours are

(Joanna Brady is a Key West writer, author of the historical novel of Key West, The Woman at the Light, published by St. Martin’s Press)

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