RUN, don’t walk to see “Silent Sky” at Waukesha Civic Theater.
I honestly don’t know where to begin so I will start with the fundamentals: the playwright and the plot.
Lauren Gunderson found an amazing story in a book titled “Miss Leavitt’s Stars: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Discovered How to Measure the Universe.” She used this biography as the basis of a play that would bring astronomer Henrietta Leavitt (1868-1921) out from the shadows of scientific discovery and shine a light on just what this incredible woman accomplished. Leavitt, along with Annie Cannon and Williamina Fleming, worked at Harvard College Observatory in the early 20th century, cataloging data on Cepheid variables; certain stars that went through periods of light and darkness. Leavitt knew this data should lead to something important and eventually made discoveries that made it possible to measure the distance of a star from the Earth. She received no credit, even though this was a game-changing revelation and others, including Edwin Hubble, used her findings in their work.
Henrietta Leavitt played by Victoria Hudziak and Peter Shaw played by Nicholas Callan Haubner in a scene from Waukesha Civic Theater’s ‘Silent Sky.’
Gunderson crafted a marvelous play that not only told Leavitt’s story, but also dramatized the many obstacles Leavitt and other women in various fields had to overcome in order to make it, in what was (and still is, in many cases,) a man’s world.
While Leavitt, Cannon and Fleming were real people, Gunderson added two fictional characters to flesh out her story: a sister who represents the pull of home and family and espouses the traditional path of wife and mother; and then, a possible love interest to remind Leavitt that opting for love and family at any point meant sacrificing her career.
Peter Shaw played by Nicholas Callan Haubner, from left, Margaret Leavitt played by Sydney Faris, Henrietta Leavitt played by Victoria Hudziak, Annie Cannon played by Kelly Simon, and Williamina Fleming played by Stephanie Demyun Smith in Waukesha Civic Theater’s ‘Silent Sky.”
The cast of “Silent Sky” was incredible. Victoria Hudziak portrayed Leavitt as straightforward in her career choice, but not unaware of the sacrifices involved. One immediately liked Leavitt due to Hudziak’s earnest, yet nuanced delivery.
Nicholas Callan Haubner, as Peter Shaw, Leavitt’s boss and possible suitor, brings a wonderful sensitivity to this role and his performance is all the stronger because of it. Sydney Faris as Margaret Leavitt brings a directness to this part as the sister who will love Henrietta no matter where her life takes her.
Kelly Simon as Annie Cannon and Stephanie Demyun Smith as Williamina Fleming give feisty performances as the female “computers” who train and support Leavitt along her path.
Director Dustin Martin took an incredible play, added a fabulous cast and has crafted one of the best shows I have ever seen.
This review had to be long in order to give credit where credit was due, but I can sum it up in four words: Go see “Silent Sky.”
“Silent Sky” runs through February 27.