Ada and the Engine, Brit d'Arbeloff Women & Science production, part of Catalyst Collaborative@ MIT, Central Square Theater, Cambridge, through October 23. entralsquaretheater.org or 617-576-9278
Lauren Gunderson seems to have a knack for depicting real life women struggling again societal challenges and chauvinistic attitudes to achieve their professional goals. A strong Central Square Theater production of "The Half -Life of Marie Curie"(2019) vividly depicted the two-time Nobel Prize-winning scientist's battle against such obstacles.
Now Central Square scores once again with a Gunderson drama-this time the inspired Brit d'Arbeloff Women & Science staging of "Ada and the Engine" (2015,also known as "Ada and the Memory Engine") a largely absorbing look at the title pioneer's exploration of pre-computer programming with fellow mathematician and professional soul mate Charles Babbage.
Ada Byron Lovelace (1817-1852), daughter of the legendary poet and his only legitimate child, was an accomplished pianist and mathematician. Yet the prodigy's greatest passion--shared by much older mentor and "father of the computer" Babbage (1791-1871)—proved to be the investigation of the powers and potential of machines that would eventually become computers.
Playwright Gunderson—as articulate in explaining technological developments in Victorian England as in detailing Curie's work in "The Half-Life of Marie Curie"—smoothly chronicles Ada's professional rite of passage from a 17 year old protégé to a true visionary.
Along the way (in a quest that sadly ended with her untimely death at 36 from uterine cancer), Ada confronts and resists the pressures of a society—and husband Lord William Lovelace—that means to keep women domesticated and suppress their professional ambitions. Gunderson effectively devotes much of the play to her relationship with Babbage—one that was certainly professionally passionate if not romantic.
If evidence of a physical relationship between Ada and Charles has yet to be established, the playwright has nevertheless made a compelling case for a platonic romance on the threshold of love. Under Deb made especially persuasive thanks to Debra Wise's sharp direction, that case is especially compelling thanks to the superb efforts of Mishy Jacobson as Ada and Diego Arciniegas as Charles.
Jacobson, in a breath-taking debut at Central Square Theater, is a revelation as Ada. She beautifully captures her free spirit, intellectual intensity and vulnerability as a Victorian wife. Jacobson convincingly speaks as Ada of connections between music and math as well as her algorithm for Babbage's Analytical Engine.
Gifted veteran actor Arciniegas makes an overdue return to the Hub as Babbage. He smartly balances Babbage's pivotal mentoring, his strong feeling and bonding with Ada and his frustration in the face of protective mother Annabella Byron's efforts to keep him away from her daughter. Jacobson and Arciniegas artfully capture the poetry and the scientific precision of the poignant exchanges between Ada and Charles.
Kortney Adams has all of Annabella's Victorian tenacity vis-à-vis Ada and tutor Mary Somerville's caring—though the latter role is somewhat underwritten. John Hardin catches Lord Lovelace's alternating cluelessness and concern.
He also finds Lord Byron's exuberance in a strikingly imagined scene with Ada. Cristina Todesco's set pieces are both spare and elegant. John Malinowski's nuanced lighting complements the brainstorming of Ada and Charles.
Ada and Charles paved the way for computers to more than crunch the numbers. Once again Central Square is bringing needed and wonderful attention to women of vision.