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Brecht Collected Plays: Life of Galileo : Part 1

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In a pleasant and intertaining discription of the life of Galileo, Bertolt Brecht explores not only the advancement of our knowledge of the earth but more important the role of the church during the time period.

Bertolt Brecht's "the Life of Galileo" is perhaps one of his best known plays which came to define the Epic Drama genre of the 20th century. Written in America after Brecht fled the Nazi uprising in Germany, "the Life of Galileo" takes a bold stance about science and scientific discovery in a time when Atomic Theory and the development of an Atomic Bomb were making people consider what may happen when something good (atomic energy) are made into something bad (atomic bombs).

Though this version is the revised edition to the play (Brecht had written two previous versions that he changed) it still captures the spirit of Epic drama and the social/political issues can be deduced by Brecht's portrayl of Galileo.

Galileo's story is well known. Brecht writing decades ago in the shadow of WWII realizes the human frailties implicit in ignorance,
bias, exercise of power and misplaced religious belief in this short and vivid work. Galileo plays several roles in Brecht's view, but none more important than that of surviving in order that his ideas could survive. I am reminded of John Ciardi's observation: "To sing, one must hide in the world one sings from."

Just like Brecht to have his finger so on the pulse of the historic past, his present and his future which has arrived as our present. Could probably benefit from some judicious cutting for modern audiences, but filled with challenging ideas. Worth the read, surely worth a production.

It's a fascinating play, but it's important to take into consideration that it takes up to 4 hours to produce in its entirety, requires a cast of up to 40 people plus orchestra and tech crew. The carnival scene (10) also requires many props, and setting it during the renaissance can be demanding for a costumier! We performed it outside in winter at night. Brrrr...