schedule
The Pauper's Theater
Schrödinger's Cat Must Die!
Fri., Jul. 31 @ 8:30 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 1 @ 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 1 @ 8:30 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 2 @ 7:00 p.m.
[A] Wed., Aug. 5 @ 8:30 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 7 @ 8:30 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 8 @ 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 8 @ 8:30 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 9 @ 5:30 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 9 @ 7:00 p.m.
KEY:
[S]=ASL interpreted
[A]=Audio described
Venue North Central University
For ages 10+
Created by T. James Belich
Web site www.pauperstheater.com
genres Solo, Comedy
features Audience participation, World premiere, Regional premiere (Minneapolis-St. Paul), Original script/choreography
Overall rating
User reviews
Not Enough World Domination
by Justin Alexander Follow this reviewer
Rating 1 kitty
As a piece of theater, Schrodinger's Cat made for a great high school physics lecture.
I feel slightly uncharitable in writing a 1 Kitty review for the play because it rates highly as a high school lecture or a Science Museum presentation.
But the show wasn't advertised or described as a mildly entertaining Introductions to Physics lecture. It was advertised as a an one-man show about a Mad Scientist, and although that conceit is applied as a faint patina to the lecture... it is ultimately an exercise in bait-and-switch that left me bored with the simplistic and unrevelatory treatment of its subject matter and upset that I had been misled into sitting through it.
fun with physics
by Roberta Humphreys Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Good fun and fun physics from a mad scientist. submitted by two real scientists wo are mad only sometimes.
Bill Nye Crossed With Dr. Horrible
by Heather Baldwin Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
As someone who was a Physics major in college years ago, I got a big kick out of this show. It's darkly humorous and educational at the same time, with some silly slapstick thrown in for good measure. Anybody who has at least some appreciation for science (and especially mad science) will have fun.
I wish I would have had him in school
by Brian Kitzerow Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
If this fits in your schedule, have some fun at this wacky physics lecture. It's as oddball as you'd expect from a story line that revolves around quantum mechanics. Just the fact that someone could conceive of a show on that topic should be enough to get you in the door and check out something that is different and fun.
Passion
by Christina Lein Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
This show is exactly what the fringe is all about. As artists we have many crazy, fun, creative ideas but may not always be able to find a place/a forum in which to present them. This show is a perfect example of one artist taking two of his personal passions, physics and performance, marrying them, and sharing with the public.
Physics is Phun!
by Brian Alexander Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Brilliant! But what do you expect from a mad scientist. Lots of fun. Go back to class and be sure to check this one out. It's the way school should have been.
Best Suspension of Disbelief
by Rob Callahan Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Immerses the audience in Dr. Volt's Mad Scientist Training Program. Set and performed in an actual classroom at North Central University, this funny, educational and kid-friendly performance features washed-up villain Dr. Volt reminiscing over his glory days of cartoonish super-villainy while teaching physics and world domination. His Hyde-like clone pantomimes physics demonstrations in the style of Mr-Wizard-Meets-Harpo-Marx as the setting and character work together to make the audience forget that they're actually at a show, and not a seminar on mad scientistry.
This is a really good play
by Michael Bendel-Stenzel Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
This was really good. Some parts are scientific and slightly hard to understand, but it was still really funny! I'd recommend this to anyone!
-the amazing 12 year old
Spellbingingly entertaining!
by David Norris Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Oh my goodness, how fun! I was a bit curious going into this how Jim was going to pull off two roles in a one-man show, but the conceit worked brilliantly and stayed consistent throughout. Part teacher and part highly entertaining storyteller, he managed to make complex physics principles ingeniously simplistic through a mix of mad scientist lessons and physical comedy bits illustrating the lessons that would have made Chaplin or even Harold Lloyd crack a smile. There is some great audience participation bits delivered classroom style that completely worked and made me forget that this was a Fringe show and not a pretend mad scientist academy.
One note: The show this evening was a room full of mostly adults who were held captivated for the whole hour, so don't confuse this with a kids show. Bring your kids, but mega kudos to Jim and his clever writing for making this appropriate to a wide audience.
There is still room for good, clean, fun theatre!
kid-rrific
by tin lizzy Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
Belich created and performs an engaging charismatic show while managing somehow to impart the solid bare-bone concepts of quantum physics.
Funnily enough (probably because I have a cold black heart) I found the tone/vibe/energy of the show just too kids-show to get drawn into it.
But myself being a physics nerd and engaged by his charismatic nerdiness - I found myself just wanting Belich to dispense with the shenanigans and straight up teach a class or lead a discussion group on String Theory, tachyons, and the Higgs boson.
But on the up-side - what genius he has for engaging the young-at-heart in what for most is a dry abstract damn-hard-to-ponder topic.
Laughter + Science = FUN!
by geoff wold Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Sounds corny maybe, but I never thought physics could be so much fun! Belich, AKA Dr. Volt, almost has a way of teaching you something no matter how hard he tries not to. A great family show or kids show. Dr. Volt's assistant had us all rolling in the aisles from the start.
If this is Quantum Physics, give me more
by Buzz Brookman Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Watching Schrödinger's Cat Must Die was like being in a time warp. The one hour performance flew by faster than the speed of light with tons of physical comedy, witty lines, and even some wonderful, educational experiments. I learned some new things about Newton's laws, and decided that even a humanities sort of guy can get into the spirit of physics. Three thumbs up for a witty, funny, and insightful performance!
earnest effort
by je jo Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
i wanted to like this one a lot more than i did. the science was very cool... just wish there was more of it. seemed like a bit of a mismatch between the goofy character's buffoonery (which kept the kids engaged) and the actual discussion of quantum physics. seems like it should have gone in one direction or the other... but either way, would have benefited from more actual demonstrations of cool science.
Smartest Show at the Fringe (Literally)
by William Marth Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Schrodinger's Cat is possibly the smartest show at the Fringe. When it's a show written by a PhD, that's bound to happen.
Part physics lesson, part Harpo Marx routine, there is a lot of fun to be had in this show, provided you have the right frame of mind for it. I did notice a few people in the audience losing their focus pretty quick when the equations started flying, so, although the theories are both easily spoon-fed or blown off as "Don't worry if you don't get it, scientists don't, either," you still have to have an open mind to some serious science talk.
Formulas and fun? It's true!
by Sarah Cura Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
I didn't expect to have a better understanding of Heisenberg uncertainty principle when I made the last minute decision to catch this show this evening, but alas I am just that little bit smarter than I was before. And I had a good time. I think I want to go into Mad Scientist Training now...
Before the show started, I was struck by the man in front of me trying to explain Schrodinger's experiment to his 7-8 year old son. Oh dad! Not another physics lecture... haha
Yet the show did have 2 kids in the audience and I do think they have a bit of an understanding of certain laws of physics now. I know they had fun. We all did.
Go see this show. Don't be afraid of science. It's cool to be a geek!
Nice!
by Kristi Lawless Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
I enjoyed this show, but I would have preferred more cool experiments and fewer antics. Also, please switch out some of the uncomfortable 'student-chairs' with regular ones...even folding chairs would have been better.
Good show, mix of science & mime
by Anton Rang Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Our family enjoyed this one. The audience participation was nice. Our son was laughing at the comedy and half-engrossed with the science. Good for everyone, extra fun if you remember a bit of your physics but not at all required!
Fun for everyone!
by Sandy Harthan Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
This show is so much fun! Whether you're a science geek or not, you will be amused and amazed by the experiments and general antics of this show. I laughed through the whole show!
Art Plus Science Equals Entertainment
by Claudia Haas Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Wave particles getting you down? Does Quantum Physics make you break out in a cold sweat? There's a cure for all. Head on down to North Central University and take a class with Dr. Volt in T. James Belich's romp through physics: SCHRODINGER'S CAT MUST DIE! Art and science combine in the best possible way in this zany production of physics, world domination and mad science. T. James Belich's script knocks down the barriers for physics-phobic people. Indeed, the laws of physics come alive through experiments that succeed and go awry and are incorporated into physical comedy that enhance the laws of motion. Kid-friendly, family-friendly and physics-friendly, the play's combination of art and science is uniquely silly and savvy. The play is written and performed by a former mad scientist, T. James Belich who clearly liked that position. Adeptly directed by Kevin Thomas Whitby, this world premiere delivers science mayhem in the best possible way. Note: No animals were hurt in the course of the production.
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