THEATRE REVIEWS

Galileo's Daughter is one of the four plays in the Peter Hall season at the Theatre Royal and it focuses on the relationship and love between father and daughter, underpinned by their intellectual interest in Galileo's scientific discoveries. A world premier by Timberlake Wertenbaker, the play is set in a world of religion, discovery and politics in Italy during the 17th century and explores the emotions of father and daughter. The simplicity of the scenery and effective use of atmospheric lighting transport the various scenes between a Florentine convent and the Vatican in Rome.

The play opens in modern day Florence where a tourist is told how a coffin buried alongside Galileo's is believed to be that of his devoted daughter. The scene then moves to the 17th century, in the convent where Galileo's daughter, Marie Celeste (Rebecca Hall) lives with her sister Arcangela (Sophie Winkleman). Whilst the former is clearly the more intellectual of the two, both vie for the love and affection of their father. Marie Celeste is passionate about her father, his mathematical knowledge and her love of God, and her over-emotive state is sometimes challenging to accept. These early scenes move swiftly and captivate the audience, capturing the developing relationship between Galileo (Julian Glover) and Marie Celeste as he recognises the intellectual capacity of his daughter. The characters of the Abbess (Anna Carteret) and of Father Antony (William Chubb) provide contrast and humour as they move between subtle, witty dialogue and intellectual discourse. Carteret in particular excels as the warm, humane nun who embodies religious tolerance.

The second half is more solemn and a superb performance by Glover shows Galileo at the Vatican, defending both his fundamental belief in the Church and his new theories about the world. However, his love for his daughter leads him to rescind his theories in order to save her. The pace of the second half is slower and explores in greater depth the idealistic love that the nun has for her father, and the consequences of these ideals being shattered. Galileo's repudiation of his work causes Marie Celeste agony and disbelief, which is portrayed in her emotional responses and the hurtful exchanges between father and daughter as the story moves to a sad end. The conflict between religious belief and scientific discovery is revealed, alongside a tender exploration of the love between father and daughter.

The world in the 17th century was built on the Church's foundations of "absolute truth" and the strong cast illustrate the danger and intrigue of the period. Galileo's Daughter is a sensitive and thought-provoking drama, and it really is worth making the time to see this premier. © JG

“Galileo's Daughter” is in repertory at Bath from the 9th of July until the 14th of August, 2004.