Einstein
EINSTEIN premiered at Toronto Workshop Productions in 1985, starring the late Canadian actor Peter Boretski and directed by Jack Blum. After touring Canada from coast to coast, the play appeared at Israel’s national Habima Theatre (starring Misha Asharov, director Howard Rypp), in several of the United States starring Chris Brittain, in Mexico where actor Patricio Castillo won an award for Best Actor (director Bruno Schwebel), Chile (starring Nisim Sharim Paz), Brazil (Directed by Sylvio Zilber, starring Carlos Palma winning an award for Best Actor), Portugal (Fernando Jorge Lopes) and has enjoyed other productions in Argentina, Spain, Germany, Singapore, India, Pakistan, Dubai and more. In 2008, Einstein was remounted by the Nephesh Theatre Company in Israel (starring Victor Attar, directed by Howard Rypp). The play toured at the La Mama Theatre in New York City, (“Einstein triumphed at La Mama, filled with wonderful irony”), Winnipeg’s Jewish Theatre and made several other stops in North America. Also, in 2008, Carlos Palma and the ACP theatre company of Brazil celebrated 10 years of performing Einstein! In 2014, India’s famed Naseeruddin Shah starred in the Motley Theatre Group’s production of “Einstein” at the Prithvi Theatre of Mumbai. The play was chosen by critics as the first of the 5 best new plays to appear in 2014 and has been remounted several times most recently in 2025. The 20th anniversary of “Einstein” starring Fernando Jorge Lopes was also celebrated at Teatro Extremo of Lisbon in 2025!
Peter Boretski
Toronto, Canada
Naseeruddin Shah
Mumbai, India
Reviews:
Einstein named 1st of top 5 productions in Mumbai, 2014
indianexpress:
indianexpress review:
10th anniversary celebrations in Sao Paolo, Brazil with actor Carlos Palma (in Toronto Maple Leaf shirt, Gabriel Emanuel and Director, Sylvio Zilber).
20th anniversary celebrations in Lisbon, Portugal
“Einstein” returns to P.M. & L. Theatre
Chicago, July, 2022
starring Fran Jansta
Naseeruddin Shah’s
solo performance in the play Einstein, produced by his theatre group Motley, has been widely acclaimed as a "theatrical masterpiece" and a "masterclass in acting". Directed by Shah himself alongside Ratna Pathak Shah and Arghya Lahiri, the 75-minute monologue humanizes the Nobel Laureate, moving beyond his scientific equations to explore his internal struggles and personal life.
Key Aspects of the Performance
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Striking Likeness & Mannerisms: Reviews frequently highlight Shah's "uncanny resemblance" to the physicist, aided by his simple attire of a grey sweater and black trousers. Critics praise his "pitch-perfect" German-Jewish accent and natural body language.
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Humanizing a Genius: The play portrays Einstein as a "relatable" and "flawed" human being. It covers his difficult relationships with his wives, his struggles with fame, and his profound regret over his role in the development of the atomic bomb.
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Compelling Narrative Structure: The performance is divided into two tones: the first half is lighter and filled with "chuckle-worthy" humor, while the second act becomes more serious as it delves into war, religion, and scientific theory.
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Modern Relevance: Reviewers note that the play, originally written by Gabriel Emanuel in 1976, remains "quietly radical" in contemporary times, particularly Einstein’s lament that "no part of the world is safe anymore" following the Hiroshima bombing.
Critical Reception
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The Times of India: Described the performance as "excellent".
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The Hindu Business Line: Praised the way Shah’s voice "rises and falls," creating moments of intense contemplation for the audience.
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Audience Experience: Attendees often describe the performance as "luminous" and "riveting," with many noting that it feels like an "intimate conversation" with a genius.
The play continues to be staged across major Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chennai, often to sold-out crowds.
