As the British Industrial Revolution dawns, young Ada Byron Lovelace (daughter of the flamboyant and notorious Lord Byron) sees the boundless creative potential in the “analytic engines” of her friend and soul-mate, Charles Babbage, inventor of the first mechanical computer. Ada envisions a whole new world where art and information converge – a world she might not live to see. A music-laced story of love, friendship, and the edgiest dreams of the future. Jane Austen meets Steve Jobs in this poignant pre-tech romance heralding the computer age.
This production is presented under the auspices of the Actors’ Equity Los Angeles Membership Company Rule.
Ada and the Engine is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service.
On the whole, Heidi Powers and her collaborators work well together in creating that feminist myth of triumph and transcendence — except when the script lets them down. This is especially the case at the end, where Gunderson tries to do too much and the play stumbles over its own ambitions. Still, Theatre Unleashed does itself proud with this production, which demonstrates their dedication to the art of theater and a refusal to be stymied by a small budget, just as Ada herself refused to be defeated by the many powerful forces arrayed against her.
These days, Theatre Unleashed occupies Studio/Stage on Western Avenue, on the other side of the hill. While the theatre is still intimate, it's a much more breathable intimate: there's a lobby (with seats!), and a stage which looks as if it could hold the entire North Hollywood expanse. And while it's nice to report that the company has more room, it's even nicer to report that the move to Studio/Stage seems also to have initiated a quantum leap in the polish of its productions, at least judging by the 2019 season opener: a stylish – and stylized – production of Lauren Gunderson's "Ada and the Engine."
Jessie Sherman fire in the belly performance of Ada Lovelace is worth the ticket price alone... Alex Knox performs equally as well as the electric and troubled genius, whose greatest roadblock is himself.
But what truly resonated with me was the chemistry exhibited by Actors Alex and Jessie. Their on stage presence together is simply electric, from the verbal sparring to the looks of longing, all eyes are on them when they share the stage together.
Ada and the Engine is hopeful, gripping and heartbreaking, endeavor well worth remembering. I indeed highly recommend this show.
Jessie Sherman is simply phenomenon as the reluctant heroine. She's my new favorite actress! ...
Writer Lauren Gunderson does an excellent job in eloquently telling the story of two people, whose desire in mathematics and life was bigger than them. Gunderson takes time to quickly establish their love for each other by feeding their hunger in math and science and then end up falling with their hearts. She didn't use too many mathematics equation speak, but makes it understandable through the heart. Sherman and Knox make a great pair...
Truly inspiring and encouraging from perfect start to flawless finish.
...the romantic liaison that Gunderson has crafted and Powers has brought to life delivers one of the loveliest and mature romantic moments I've seen on stage.
Overall, thanks to the fusion of a talented director and cast, Ada and the Engine offers a solid evening of entertainment to any audience and Theatre Unleashed has earned a definite feather to add to their bonnet.
As an engineer, programmer, and mathematician (really, my Bachelors degree from UCLA is in Math/Computer Science; my Masters in in Computer Science), I found this to be a wonderful show. The science is right, the story is right, and the performances were great. It is well worth seeing.
On the whole, Heidi Powers and her collaborators work well together in creating that feminist myth of triumph and transcendence — except when the script lets them down. This is especially the case at the end, where Gunderson tries to do too much and the play stumbles over its own ambitions. Still, Theatre Unleashed does itself proud with this production, which demonstrates their dedication to the art of theater and a refusal to be stymied by a small budget, just as Ada herself refused to be defeated by the many powerful forces arrayed against her.
These days, Theatre Unleashed occupies Studio/Stage on Western Avenue, on the other side of the hill. While the theatre is still intimate, it's a much more breathable intimate: there's a lobby (with seats!), and a stage which looks as if it could hold the entire North Hollywood expanse. And while it's nice to report that the company has more room, it's even nicer to report that the move to Studio/Stage seems also to have initiated a quantum leap in the polish of its productions, at least judging by the 2019 season opener: a stylish – and stylized – production of Lauren Gunderson's "Ada and the Engine."
Jessie Sherman fire in the belly performance of Ada Lovelace is worth the ticket price alone... Alex Knox performs equally as well as the electric and troubled genius, whose greatest roadblock is himself.
But what truly resonated with me was the chemistry exhibited by Actors Alex and Jessie. Their on stage presence together is simply electric, from the verbal sparring to the looks of longing, all eyes are on them when they share the stage together.
Ada and the Engine is hopeful, gripping and heartbreaking, endeavor well worth remembering. I indeed highly recommend this show.
Jessie Sherman is simply phenomenon as the reluctant heroine. She's my new favorite actress! ...
Writer Lauren Gunderson does an excellent job in eloquently telling the story of two people, whose desire in mathematics and life was bigger than them. Gunderson takes time to quickly establish their love for each other by feeding their hunger in math and science and then end up falling with their hearts. She didn't use too many mathematics equation speak, but makes it understandable through the heart. Sherman and Knox make a great pair...
Truly inspiring and encouraging from perfect start to flawless finish.
...the romantic liaison that Gunderson has crafted and Powers has brought to life delivers one of the loveliest and mature romantic moments I've seen on stage.
Overall, thanks to the fusion of a talented director and cast, Ada and the Engine offers a solid evening of entertainment to any audience and Theatre Unleashed has earned a definite feather to add to their bonnet.
As an engineer, programmer, and mathematician (really, my Bachelors degree from UCLA is in Math/Computer Science; my Masters in in Computer Science), I found this to be a wonderful show. The science is right, the story is right, and the performances were great. It is well worth seeing.
