Arts Alive San Antonio

By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor

Have you heard that Einstein was wrong about a whole lot of things?
Yes, that Einstein! The most famous scientist in modern history.

If you haven’t, you ought to see the new play at the Overtime Theater that tells you all about it. Titled “Einstein’s Wrong About Everything,” it is the brainchild of San Antonio playwright Joseph E. Green, which will open this weekend at the small theater that’s known for its exploration of new and original works. Here’s how the playwright described it: “A play based on true events, possibly true events, and blatantly untrue events.”

One true event is that Albert Einstein’s brain was actually removed from his head shortly after his death in 1955 by pathologist Thomas Stoltz Harvey and later transferred to a lab at the University of Pennsylvania for further study by leading pathologists of the day. Apparently, a lot of scientists were interested in studying Einstein’s brain to see if it was substantially different from the usual human brain.

So, you can see where Green found his inspiration. The play’s action is set in 1957, following Thomas Harvey’s decision to “steal” the famed physicist’s brain. Soon after, he finds himself in danger as he is being pursued by both authorities and Neo-Nazis who want to get their hands on the brain in order to destroy it.

“It is a true story that the brain went missing for decades,” said the play’s director Kareem Abu Dahab. “Our story is a story of what may or may not have happened to the brain. So, we are having a little fun with history and we are adding a lot of new elements. For the most part, what people will see onstage is a figment of the playwright’s imagination.”

The play was selected for production by the company’s board of directors before the pandemic but could not be safely produced until now, noted Abu Dahab

“I was asked to rejoin the company and I was very privileged to meet the writer and meet the board, and we all agreed that this was going to be an excellent play that, I think, everyone is going to enjoy. There are a lot of interesting characters in this play.

“In fact, the fun part about this play is that it’s a romp through an era of American history that was filled with very interesting personalities and a lot of changes in post WWII America of the 1950s. This was the Beatnik era, but also the rise of dangerous ideologies, like Neo Nazism”

In addition to Thomas, the guy who steels the brain “to preserve it for history” and his helpmate- girlfriend, Ally – and the Neo Nazis who are after them – all sorts of famous individuals decide to pitch-in and help.

“Our Nazis are much sillier than the historical ones. There’s nothing frightening or violent on stage. We made them into a joke. It’s a fun group of actors. We don’t want anyone’s sensibilities to be offended. This is a comedy,” emphasized the director.

When Thomas and Ally end up in hiding in Ohio, Thomas discover that his roommate is Beat writer William S. Burroughs, who then joins the brain-saving effort, together with other celebrities of the day, including Eleonor Roosevelt, Groucho Marx, Aleister Crowley and Jack Kerouac.

A romp, indeed!  

“I am impressed that a writer can bring together so many different personalities into, somehow, a very cohesive comedy,” said the director. “It’s a roller-coaster ride of zany proportions.”

He should know, since he, too, writes for the theater. When he is not writing or making people laugh at the Overtime. Abu Dahab works as a marketing specialist for the SA Metro Health District.

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“Einstein’s Wrong About Everything”; Jan. 14-Feb.5; Fridays-Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 23 at 3 p.m.; Overtime Theater, 5409 Bandera Rd., Ste 205, 78238; ; tickets $12-$18 at the door or online at www.ShowTix4u.com. Seating with distancing; masks “strongly encouraged.” 210-577-7562, www.theovertimetheater.org.