INTERVIEW: Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet is ready to defend her life
Photo: Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight plays The Flea through April 30. Photo courtesy of Duende Productions / Provided by Emily Owens PR with permission.
The new play Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight, written by Lauren Gunderson, tells the story of an 18th century physicist who has never received her proper recognition in the history books, according to press notes. The show, directed by Kathy Gail MacGowan, continues through April 30 at The Flea in New York City.
There are a lot of important facets to the La Marquise du Châtelet’s story. Press notes indicate she was one of the first female physicists, and she was seeking to disprove Newton’s laws of physics. That work was cut short after she died at the age of 44 following complications during childbirth. Her lover, Voltaire, received much more acclaim than she ever did, even though some of her work helped Einstein with his theory of relativity.
Gunderson has looked at historical women in the sciences before. Her acclaimed play The Half-Life of Marie Curie, starring Kate Mulgrew and Francesca Faridany, played the Minetta Lane Theatre before the pandemic, courtesy of Audible Theater. MacGowan is an accomplished director whose work has appeared in numerous theaters, including 59E59, HERE, IATA Theatre and the 14th Street Y. She holds an MFA in directing from The New School, according to her official biography, and was a finalist for Drama League directing honors.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with MacGowan on all things Emilie, which is being presented in New York City by Duende Productions. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style
What do you believe Emilie’s story has to say in 2023?
I think she had a lot to say, and her story will inspire everyone, especially in the recent difficult years where we may find ourselves disenfranchised, isolated and unmotivated.
Emilie was born into a time when women weren’t supposed to be thinkers, and yet not only did she think, she defied all odds and became the first female scientist to publish a paper. The year was 1738. Yes, she had a lot of help both from her father, the principal secretary to King Louis XIV who made sure she was brilliantly educated, and Voltaire, her lover and colleague for 17 years who adored and encouraged her, but even then she had to take small steps, write anonymously at first and push strict boundaries to finally be heard.
She died in childbirth at age 44, and during the months leading up to the birth she worked throughout the nights to finish her masterpiece: her translation of Newton’s Principia as well as her own commentary on Force Vive and her theory of energy. I read that the baby was laid out on her just finished manuscript.
In reading and researching about her life, I was struck not only by her ambition to know but by her capacity to love. She was a self-made natural philosopher, physicist and mathematician who proposed that experimentation was necessary in order to prove theories, and she was also a woman who strove to be happy in her relationships as a lover, a mother, wife and protect and support the people she loved.
She also had to be a politician of sorts to negotiate at court and make sure her family was taken care of, including her lover Voltaire who was always getting into trouble. She was driven to discover the truth about how the world works not only from a scientific point of view (Force Vive, Gravity, Fire, planetary movement) but also from a human point of view. She wrote her own dissertation on “Happiness,” struggled with how to lead a good and accomplished life, and wondered what her legacy would be.
She wrote that she was driven “to seek the truth” about life and the universe, and I not only admire her achievements as an 18th century female scientist, but equally I admire her dogged determination to understand the whole of our existence by asking the difficult questions.
What do you like about Lauren Gunderson’s writing?
I love the playfulness and directness of her voice. Her writing is full of wit and humor. As a director, I had a ball with her inclusion of tableaus, the playfulness in having the characters talk to the audience and step in and out of moments, as well as her more poetic and dramatic moments of loss and discovery.
Did you have to conduct a lot of research on the time period, physics, etc.?
I read the book that served as the basis for the research for this play, as well as other books and scientific articles. That’s the joy of working on a play about a historic figure. There are so many gems in the research that can inform your direction of the play.
Could you describe your directing process with this ensemble?
We shared our research, our thoughts and feelings concerning the struggles of the characters, and then got to it! The play is very physical. The ensemble is a constant presence, moving, re-enacting moments from Emilie’s life, creating tableaus to baroque music. Voltaire and Emilie’s scenes ground the play in the world of relationship and discovery, not only of themselves, but of the natural world. The physical life and emotional core are beautifully and entertainingly balanced.
What does a play need to feature in order for you to sign on the dotted line as director?
I need to believe in the story and love the writing.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight continues through April 30 at The Flea. The play, written by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Kathy Gail MacGowan, is presented by Duende Productions. Click here for more information and tickets.
