‘A Wrinkle in Time’ invites families to another dimension
‘We spend time in rehearsal world building . . . so the audience will know how these characters fit together.’
REGINE VITAL (below), director of “A Wrinkle in Time”
More than 60 years after Madeleine L’Engle’s “A Wrinkle in Time” was first published, the science-fiction adventure still resonates with readers of all ages.
“The story is so simple,” says Regine Vital, who is directing a stage adaptation of the novel at Wheelock Family Theatre, starting Saturday. “It’s about a teenager named Meg Murry, who just wants her dad back, her mom to be happy, and her little brother safe.”
Of course, the appeal of the novel lies in the courage and determination Meg must summon to go on an adventure to rescue her father and restore balance in the universe, not to mention the ways in which it makes science and math feel magical and powerful. The “wrinkle” of the title refers to a tesseract, a four-dimensional geometric shape that allows Meg, her brilliant younger brother, Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin to travel through space and time to a fifth dimension, where her father has been imprisoned. The story has been adapted several times, most recently in a 2018 film starring Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Mindy Kaling (as Meg’s celestial guides — Mrs. Which, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Who).
“I loved this book when I was a child,” says Vital. “It was the first book I wanted to return to, to read again and again.”
Five of the six members of the ensemble double, and sometimes triple in roles, except for Beza Mekonnen, the Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School senior who plays Meg.
“We spend time in rehearsal world building,” says Vital, “figuring out how these ‘planets’ and ‘stars’ rotate on their axes and what their gravitational pull is, so the audience will know how these characters fit together.”
L’Engle’s novel may follow a familiar “quest” story line, but the author also explores quantum physics, math concepts, and astronomy in a way that makes them exciting.
“She opens readers up to the magic of learning,” says Vital, who is also an educator. “The moment a concept clicks is as powerful as any magic spell.”
Some of the story’s appeal lies in the fact that Meg is an unlikely hero who must push her boundaries, while also relying on her brother and her friend.
“This trio can’t accomplish what they must without each other,” says Vital. “They have so much faith in each other, and so much love for each other.”
Meg’s growth as an individual throughout the novel allows her to serve as a wonderful role model, Vital says.
“Meg starts out really closed off,” she says, “but as she opens up her mind to possibility and her heart to others, she becomes this incredible ball of light and love.”
The story, she says, resonates even more in this post-pandemic world.
“It’s great for young people to see a young woman who is determined and brave, but also know that ‘brave’ can mean admitting you can’t do something alone, and the most important thing is to be yourself,” Vital says. “The world is hard and scary for young people today. We can’t always guarantee a safe space, but we want to create a brave space.”
Climate plays in Gloucester
Gloucester Stage Company is hosting “Water’s Rising: Festival of New Climate Action Plays” April 26-28 to coincide with Earth Day. The theater company received 240 submissions for the festival and selected three: “A Few Fun Facts About Greenland,” by Maximillian Gill; “Cincinnati by the Sea,” by Hannah Vaughn; and “If Nobody Does Remarkable Things,” by Emma Gibson. Tickets are $20 for each play or $50 for a festival pass. Go to gloucesterstage.com/waters-rising-festival.
Arlekin Players to present ‘The Dybbuk’
The century-old Yiddish theater classic, “The Dybbuk,” will be presented in a new adaptation by Arlekin Players Theatre and staged at the Vilna Shul May 30-June 23. The play, originally written in 1916 by S. Ansky, had its world premiere in Warsaw in 1920, and has now been rewritten by Roy Chen and adapted by Arlekin artistic director Igor Golyak with Dr. Rachel Merrill Moss. The story follows Leah, a young woman who is possessed by a malicious spirit (the dybbuk of the title) of the man she loved.
Staging the production in the Vilna Shul, a cultural center in a historic synagogue on Beacon Hill, was an important part of the vision for “The Dybbuk,” Golyak said in a statement.
“In this terrible time in our country and our world, nothing feels more needed than to gather our many communities … in this sacred space and share an epic and fantastical tale of love, yearning, and the restless spirits that lie between us, and between worlds.” Tickets can be purchased at arlekinplayers.com/the-dybbuk.
Teatro Chelsea expands leadership
Teatro Chelsea has named Elliot Norton Award-winning director Mariela López-Ponce (“Don’t Eat the Mangos”) as the company’s co-producing artistic director, joining Armando Rivera, who has led the program since its 2020 launch. Together, the pair will each produce and direct projects while pursuing Teatro’s mission of amplifying Latin voices, culture, and talent.
For her first project in her new capacity, López-Ponce will collaborate with playwright Alejandro Rodriguez on the world premiere of his work “Alba,” one of three plays selected for Teatro Chelsea’s A-Típico IV, an annual festival and cornerstone of the company’s work.