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representing a nearly undocumented event in her life. This really happened. She did spend some months in England with her friend and fellow scientist Hertha Ayrton, but, of course, no one was privy to their private conversations. I like the texture of the language and the tempo and the heat of the script. It is scientific, as well as poetic." "When I first read the play, what I found moving and appealing about it was the fact that here was a play about two very strong, intelligent, professional women who had to fight for their science and their rights to be recognized and valued, but who were shown in a period of great vulnerability," notes actor Leontyne Mbele-Mbong, who plays Hertha Ayrton. "I feel that in society it can be hard to be allowed to be strong and break down. So this portrayal of a moment of weakness in what we all know were lives of great strength without in any way diminishing that strength was very compelling. ... It is also a friendship that lives in a political world. I feel that Hertha views her task of comforting and buoying Marie up, not just as an act of friendship, but also as a political battle in the war against sexism." And with the first woman in American political history taking on the mantle of Vice President-elect, November of 2020, as it turns out, is a fortuitous time to mount a play that tackles themes like politics and sexism. "I think people will also be amazed to be reminded how recently white women in America, as well as other countries, received the vote," says Harris, pointing out how many themes in the play resonate with what's going on in the world today. "While it isn't directly addressed in the script, I think it is also important to consider how much more recently women of color got the right to vote here and abroad. Curie was passionate about truth and proof, which seems remarkably important right now and not something to be taken for granted. Also, she was an immigrant. She moved from Poland to France in her 20s." "As Kamala Harris stated in her address as Vice President-elect, she stands on the shoulders of the women who fought before her," says Mbele- Mbong. "And that fight isn't just led by the openly militant but by the ones who quietly plug away at their work and allow nothing to stand in their way. Marie Curie wasn't a vocal feminist, but by her sheer doggedness in pursuit of her science, she broke barriers. Hertha Ayrton was a very vocal feminist, part of the suffrage movement in Britain, protesting and getting arrested. It takes both types to open doors and shatter ceilings. This play highlights just how long that fight has been going on when placed next to the news that, for the first time in the U.S., we have a woman Vice President. It's mind-blowing when you think about it in the span of time." Like all performing arts organizations, T2 has struggled with decisions regarding when live performances might be safe again; Harris says the theater is erring on the side of caution and taking the run of this show virtual in the interest of public safety. "This play is going straight to tape, straight to streaming, because the covid-19 numbers in Washington County are still too high to allow for live audiences," she says. "But we have been rehearsing and preparing for this production as we would for a regular play. We'll tape it like a play, not a movie, so I think people will have an experience that is closer to coming to the theater than to just seeing a film. It has been really great (and very safe) to be in a room with these lovely people working on this project." 6 WHAT'S UP! NOVEMBER 15-21, 2020 T2 Continued From Page 5 FAYETTEVILLE PRESIDENT Brent A. Powers EDITOR Becca Martin-Brown 479-872-5054 bmartin@nwadg.com Twitter: NWAbecca ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jocelyn Murphy 479-872-5176 jmurphy@nwadg.com Twitter: NWAJocelyn ! UP WHAT'S ON THE COVER The ever-popular Frisco Sing-Along Steam Train welcomes the spirit of the season to Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo. An Old Time Christmas also includes more than 6.5 million lights (that's 680 miles); 1,000 deco- rated Christmas trees; 600 wreaths; and more than 3 miles of garland and ribbon. (COURTESY PHOTO) What's Up! is a publication of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat- Gazette. REPORTER Lara Hightower 479-365-2913 lhightower@nwadg.com DESIGNER Deb Harvell Go to: facebook.com/BestBranson Like The Best of Branson on Facebook for a chance to win some Really Great Prizes! This week's prize: New contest each week! facebook.com/BestBranson LIKE our Facebook page before 11:59 pm this Tuesday, Nov. 17, to be entered to win 2 Tickets to inside Branson