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Overview

Synopsis

In the afterlife, friends Werner Heisenberg, Niels Bohr, and Niels' wife, Margrethe, meet to discuss a question that has been plaguing the group since before they died: "Why did Heisenberg visit Bohr in Copenhagen at the height of World War II?" As a German physicist whose funding was sponsored by the Nazi government, Heisenberg risked his life to visit his long time friend and mentor Bohr, a Jewish physicist. Such a visit could have easily given the Nazis ground to convict Heisenberg of treason and execute him. Theories are proposed and hotly debated as the friends retrace their relationships, and attempt to understand the personal and professional implications their science had amidst the heated world politics of early 1940's Europe. Over the course of the play, the trio finally settles on one idea to answer the question… although they all agree there is no way to actually verify it as the definitive truth. Copenhagen explores the strength of a friendship tested by science, memory, war, and death.

Show Information

Book
Michael Frayn
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1998
Genres
Drama, Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Simple/No Set, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
the afterlife, timeless
Cast Size
small
Licensor
Samuel French
Ideal For
Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Small Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Werner Heisenberg

Lead

Male

Spoken

Niels Bohr

Lead

Male

Spoken

Margrethe Bohr

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

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Videos

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