The Life And Times Of A. Einstein
Kres Mersky is an actress who has performed in film, theatre and television but also proves that she has a talent for playwriting as well. In her one-woman play, The Life and Times of A. Einstein, playing at Theatre West in Los Angeles, she vividly gives us an insight into the man as she portrays his longtime secretary Ellen Schoenhammer. Performing with an impeccable German accent, she addresses the audience as if she is speaking to members of the press who are awaiting the arrival of Einstein in celebration of his birthday. Einstein has notified Ellen that he is being held up at a seminar. Not too taken aback, she takes control of the situation as she has always done as Einstein’s “right-hand” woman with apologies for his lateness.
Since we never get to meet Einstein, we learn a great deal about him as Ellen gives glimpses into the man, even trying her best to explain his Theory of Relativity. There is a great deal of humor in the play as she tries to answer questions from “the press,” often evading answers in her own way. She even goes back to when she first applied for the job at the age of 17, was told that the requirements for the job were that she could drive, type and shoot a gun! When Einstein asked her about her attributes and she told him that she wasn’t good at science but certainly could shoot a gun, he hired her on the spot! From that moment on, Ellen was his chauffeur, secretary and bodyguard! Moreover, it is obvious that she had to hide her true feelings for the man through all of their working years together.
Mersky brings life to a little-known person, Ellen Schoenhammer, who truly ran Einstein’s life for 35 years, with her humor, her loyalty and her admiration for the man. The performance of this gifted actress/playwright is under the direction of Paul Gersten who also directed Kres in her one-person, self-written show, Isadora Duncan: A Unique Recital and who also happens to be the husband of Kres Mersky. Plays in repertory with Acting: The First Six Lessons.
Theatre West
3333 Cahuenga Blvd.West
Los Angeles, CA
For tickets: (323) 851-7977 or www.theatrewest.org