The delineation of the human genome has to be the most important discovery in the last century. A genome is comprised of the chemical base pairs that make up DNA. The mapping of the human genome is an important step in determining the genetic makeup of any given (unique) individual and using that knowledge to create medicines and procedures that could cure diseases heretofore incurable. Could the search for the human genomic makeup make for riveting theatre? You bet it can.
The Theatre @ Boston Court in Pasadena is presenting The Sequence, which maps the historical events that have led to the mapping of the human genome (well, almost). The reason it makes good theatre is that The Sequence follows the struggle of two uber-brilliant scientists as they compete to be the first to accomplish the goal. On the one hand you have Francis Collins (William Salyers) who has proceeded at a conservative pace, releasing his findings as he goes along. On the other hand is the eccentric Craig Venter (Hugo Armstrong) whose company, Celera Genomics, is using unconventional means and patenting each discovery for the purpose of making a profit. The battle is between public good and private profit, and an exciting journey it is. These scientists cheat, lie, manipulate the public, and generally have a good time doing so, sometimes with hilarious results.
Keeping score is a wide-eyed journalist (Karri Krause) who has both public reasons (she wants a Pulitzer) and a private motive (she might have inherited breast cancer). In the course of the play all three characters go through intense self-examination and discovery.
The cast is excellent. William Salyers plays the nerdy Collins, who discovers his competitive nature in trying to deal with the wily Venter as played by Armstrong. Both actors are strong, but Armstrong is particularly good; he has been in previous productions at The Boston Court, where he is a regular and rightly so. He has a sense of humor combined with menace (think Jack Nicholson) that makes him eminently watchable. Speaking of watchable, Karri Krause is very much so as she plays the aggressive beauty who more or less referees the evening.
Sparks fly as we witness the excitement of a great scientific discovery. But it's dull science, you say. Well, it's not dull as staged by John Langs and written by Paul Mullin. Balloons, colorful DNA strands falling from the ceiling, and monitors on the back which are used as a backdrop to the action make The Sequence a thoroughly enjoyable evening at the theatre. Gosh, and I learned something too. The Sequence plays at The Theatre @ Boston Court until Nov. 9th.
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