The public seems to be under the impression that only contemporary science is driven by competition for first place – a kind of Olympics with only a gold medal. In fact, this drive is both nourishment and poison for scientists and has always been fundamental to the workings of their tribal culture. Through the figure of one of the greatest scientists of all time, Isaac Newton, “CALCULUS” shows that the deviances resulting from such ambition were as pronounced 300 years ago as they are now. The 30-years feud between England’s and Germany’s greatest natural philosophers, Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz, about who first invented the calculus (integral and differential equations) is particularly relevant as it was conducted through their followers.
+INFO
Museu da Ciência da Universidade de Coimbra | Coimbra
17 November to 3 December (wednesday to saturday) 2011 | 9:30pm
Age rating | 12+
Running time | 90m
Playbill
The manipulation of an anonymous committee of eleven Royal Society fellows by its President, Newton, is barely known and is illustrated in “CALCULUS” through three such followers of Newton: John Arbuthnot (physician to Queen Anne), the well-known French immigrant mathematician Abraham de Moivre, and Louis Frederic Bonet, the King of Prussia’s ambassador to London. Ultimately the play answers the question “What does moral integrity have to do with integral calculus?”. By one word: “Plenty.”
Carl Djerassi, in “Cálculo”, Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra, 2011 (In press)
Playwright Carl Djerassi
Discussion and Ideas Alexandre Lemos, Andreia Damas, Carlota Simões, Filipe Eusébio, Gil MAC, Helena G. Freitas, José Valente, Mário Montenegro, Pedro Andrade, Rui Guerreiro, Rui Simão
Direction and Translation Mário Montenegro
Cast Andreia Damas Lady Brasenose, Filipe Eusébio Vanbrugh, Moivre , Newton, Gil MAC Cibber, Bonet, Leibniz, Helena G. Freitas Sra. Arbuthnot, Rui Guerreiro Dr. Arbuthnot
Set Design, Wardrobe and Image Pedro Andrade
Original Soundtrack and Sound Design José Valente
Lighting Design and Technical Direction Rui Simão
Technical Assistance Guilherme Barbosa
Stage Photography Francisca Moreira
Hair Design Ilídio Design
Executive production Lígia Anjos
With the support of
Direção-Geral das Artes
Câmara Municipal de Coimbra
Bahlsen
Cafetaria do Museu da Ciência
Coisas Antigas
Fundação Bissaya Barreto
Ilídio Design
JACC — Jazz ao Centro Club
MAFIA — Federação Cultural de Coimbra
Museu da Ciência da Universidade de Coimbra
Zé Carioca
Bloco Esquerda
Dolce Vita
Partido Comunista Português
RUC — Rádio Universidade de Coimbra
UCV — Televisão Web da Universidade de Coimbra
Acknowledgements
Carl Djerassi, Carlos Fiolhais, Carlota Simões
- Productions
- Cálculo
