Theatre Royal Haymarket – until 31st August 2024
Reviewed by Heather Chalkley
4****
Writer Katherine Moar has successfully pieced together conversations recorded in 1945 at Farm Hall in Oxfordshire, woven into the known backgrounds of the German scientists detained there, to produce a unique perspective. She offers a truly human insight into the relationships between the 6 men that produced the science behind the Atomic Bomb, against the backdrop of Nazi Germany.
The powerful, arrogance of lead scientist Heisenberg is carried effortlessly by Alan Cox. The mindless boredom of their confinement testing relationships and his authority. Then the unthinkable happened. The Americans got there first. Cox (Heisenberg) portrays the disbelief well in his outburst proclaiming it must be a hoax.
The minutiae in the relationships is cleverly revealed by the accentuation of endless hours spent together. Far right party member Diebner (Julius D’Silva) is the epitome of Nazi citizenship. Disliked by the other scientists, who despite their patriotism were not Nazis sympathizers. D’Silva (Diebner) is able to swing from purist, logical science to moralistic questioning of all their motivations, showing a more vulnerable side to his character.
The interaction between Von Laue (David Yelland) and Hahn (Forbes Masson) balanced out the bickering with kindness and remorse, giving the opportunity for all to express their true feelings. Masson (Hahn) captures the audiences heart in an unexpected way, carrying the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.
Daniel Boyd (Weizsacker) is convincing in his role as the young mediator, trying desperately to keep everyone together. Archie Backhouse (Bagge) is the most relatable character, no bragging, missing home, realistic about his prospects going forward.
The monologue delivered by Cox (Heisenberg) at the end has genuine gravity, neatly wrapping up the play.
You get caught up in the human story here and how the enormity of the situation hits these 6 brilliant men. They never thought it would happen.
The combined setting and situation is rare and based on historical fact. You will not find a story like this anywhere else.