Vern Thiessen

Although the title would imply that the play is about Einstein, it is actually more about Fritz Haber, the man who discovered how to fix nitrogen and created the fertilizer industry as we know it today. He also was responsible for German use of chlorine gas in WWI, but in WWII, had to leave Germany because a Jew being baptized a Christian was no longer protection. Einstein serves as a backdrop to Haber's story, interacting with him throughout key points of his life, and engaging with him on the value of theoretical vs. applied science. The discussions veer from scientific to philosophical to political to personal, and the author weaves all the strands together delicately enough to keep them in a good balance. It's a good read, and the author manages to bring just the right twist of irony to the end, as the applied science role of Einstein's work becomes all too clear.… (mere)