Arthur Eddington in THE SQUARE ROOT OF THE SONNET

Brian Levi plays Arthur Eddington in THE SQUARE ROOT OF A SONNET

In 1930, when S. Chandrasekhar arrived in Cambridge, Sir Arthur Eddington was the most influential astrophysicist in the world. The long list of his discoveries included the first working model of the stars, which was really the birth of modern astrophysics. Eddington was Chandrasekhar’s doctoral adviser.

The young Eddington was a brilliant mathematician and won scholarships to the University of Manchester and then to Trinity College, Cambridge. He worked at the Royal Greenwich Observatory for a few years and then came back to Cambridge as the Plumian Professor of Astronomy in 1913.

Eddington was one of the first western scientists to believe in Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. This was particularly significant because this was during World War I. England and Germany were on opposite sides of the war. And yet, Eddington not only gave Einstein’s theory his approval, he conclusively proved it with a brilliant experiment (which is enacted in the play.)

When Chandrasekhar arrived in Cambridge he was all of nineteen. Eddington, his doctoral adviser, was at the peak of his fame and influence. On the ship voyage to England, Chandra had made a most significant discovery - something that was later called the Chandrasekhar Limit. But for reasons unknown, Eddington sabotaged Chandra and his discovery. He set up Chandra to give a talk at the Royal Astronomical Society and then, publicly humiliated him there. The play centers around the relationship between Chandra and Eddington and what Eddington’s motivations might have been. 

The role of Eddington is being played by Brian Levi.

Tickets are on sale on City LIghts Theater’s website. 

More information about the play and the cast is here.