Silent Sky is astronomically enlightening

Last year, Lauren Gunderson was granted the title of the most produced living playwright in America. Heralded for her prolific writings, Gunderson shows her understanding of science in the current production at the Lamb’s Playhouse in Coronado.

Silent Sky is the story of astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt. While working at the Harvard Observatory, Leavitt determines the correlation between a star’s luminosity and its distance from earth.

This is not the stuff most playwrights would pick to put to paper. Nonetheless, Gunderson pulls it off. This biography of real people doing real work is endearing. It is warm. It is funny. It is valuable. This is a well written show about an obscure scientist and her peers that is based on the facts. The players bring the truth to light.

Henrietta Leavitt (Rachel VanWormer) has a passion for astronomy. When invited to join the esteemed team of “computers” at the Harvard Observatory, “Henri” cashes out her dowry and leaves the Wisconsin farm for Boston. Played with pith and flint, VanWormer embraces this young woman, exposing her frailties.

Margaret Leavitt (Caitie Grady) is left behind to care for their aging father, the local pastor. Grady adds warmth and understanding to her role as the loving sister.

Annie Cannon (Cynthia Gerber) develops the Spectral Class of Stars which was the basis for Hubble’s Classification Scheme of the universe. Gerber embodies the persona of this peppery suffragette while invoking the integrity connected to their mission.

Former housekeeper-turned-computer, Williamina Fleming (Deborah Gilmour Smyth), is instrumental in carrying out the daily drudgery of reading numerous star plates and accurately recording their movements. Played with a winning Scottish burr, Gilmour-Smyth inputs her fairy-sense of humor into an engaging performance.

Peter Shaw (Brian Mackey) shows temerity to admit his father’s connections got him a staff placement unlike the scientific aptitude of his underlings. Mackey is the quintessential, timid Victorian gent. He has the good sense to admit, “I learned not to argue with women”.

This splendid cast bandies conversations about Cepheid luminosity and the merits of the greater refactor telescope into a winning discussion amongst learned constituents; all the while making this mind-blowing information understandable and exciting.

True to their mission, artistic director Robert Smyth continues to lead the Lamb’s Players into another thought provoking experience worth sharing while championing the moral imagination by telling a good story.

Supporting the fine actors is a crew of professionals back stage like costume designer Jemma Durtra, set designer Sean Fanning, prop master Rachel Hengst, and the imaginative lighting designed by Nathan Peirson. And least one not forget the stage manager, Jason Heil, alongside a league of volunteer ushers which help to make this production a success.

Silent Sky plays at Lamb’s Playhouse, 1142 Orange Avenue, Coronado, through May 28. Performances are: Tuesday 7:30 p.m., Wednesday

2 p.m./7:30 p.m., Thursday 7:30 p.m., Friday 8 p.m., Saturday 4 p.m./8 p.m., and Sunday 2 p.m. Call the box office at (619) 437 6000 or visit http://www.lambsplayers.org. You will be glad you caught this one.