The Farnsworth Invention

THE ALLEY THEATRE
www.alleytheatre.org
Gregory Boyd, Artistic Director
Dean R. Gladden, Managing Director

PRESENTS

THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION

by Aaron Sorkin
Directed by David Cromer

June 5th through the 28th, 2009
Hubbard Stage

The Company in the Alley Theatre’s production of The Farnsworth Invention. The Farnsworth Invention runs on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage June 5 – June 28, 2009. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T Charles Erickson.

Alley Theatre Presents Aaron Sorkin's The Farnsworth Invention

An Extraordinary, Ambitious New Play About the Birth of Television

Directed by David Cromer

June 5 through June 28, 2009 on the Hubbard Stage

HOUSTON, TX - Aaron Sorkin's new play, The Farnsworth Invention, is a compelling story about the creation of television and in Sorkin's words "the spirit of exploration." The Farnsworth Invention will be the fourth play that David Cromer directs at the Alley, following the hugely successful The Santaland Diaries, The Clean House and Orson's Shadow.

In 1929, two ambitious visionaries race against each other to introduce to the world a revolutionary new device called "television." By the fall of 1921, an Idaho farm boy Philo T. Farnsworth had drawn a diagram of an "image dissector tube" for a prototype electronic television system. As he seeks to develop a functioning machine, Farnsworth is swept into an epic struggle with David Sarnoff, an enterprising media mogul who foresees the lucrative potential of this powerful cultural and scientific invention. Only one man will unlock the key to the greatest innovation of the 20^thcentury and rule the airwaves. Drawn to the story about the race to create an operable television and the competition for the patent right to control the future of this technology, Aaron Sorkin describes his play as "an optimistic story about the spirit of exploration" in a National Public Radio interview.
Recommended for mature audiences. Strong Language.

The Farnsworth Invention by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Cromer begins Friday, June 5 and runs through Sunday, June 28, 2009 on the Hubbard Stage.

Jeffrey Bean as David Sarnoff in the Alley Theatre’s production of The Farnsworth Invention. The Farnsworth Invention runs on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage June 5 – June 28, 2009. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T Charles Erickson.

About Aaron Sorkin
Aaron Sorkin graduated from Syracuse University with a B.F.A. in Theatre in 1983. He made his Broadway playwriting debut at the age of 28 with the military courtroom drama, A Few Good Men, for which he received the John Gassner Award as Outstanding New American Playwright. His subsequent film adaptation was nominated for four Academy Awards and five Golden Globes, including Best Picture and Best Screenplay. He followed this success with the screenplays for Malice, starring Alec Baldwin and Nicole Kidman, and The American President , starring Michael Douglas and Annette Bening. Mr. Sorkin produced and wrote the television series Sports Night for ABC for two years, winning the Humanitas Prize and the Television Critics Association Award. He spent the next four years writing and producing the NBC series The West Wing, winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series all four years. For his work on The West Wing, Mr. Sorkin also twice received the Peabody Award, the Humanitas Prize, the Television Critics Association Award and the Golden Globe, Writers Guild and Producers Guild Awards.

James Belcher as Leslie Gorrell in the Alley Theatre’s production of The Farnsworth Invention. The Farnsworth Invention runs on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage June 5 – June 28, 2009. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T Charles Erickson.

About David Cromer
A native of Chicago, David Cromer is an OBIE and Lortel award-winning director and actor. In order to direct the Alley's production of The Farnsworth Invention, Cromer took a leave from directing and performing as the Stage Manager in the Off-Broadway production of Our Town , called "highly rewarding" by the New York Times. Describing the same production, the Wall Street Journal called David Cromer a "genius," adding "I don't know a more gifted stage director, or one who, at the age of 44, holds out the promise of still greater things to come." The New Yorker said that Cromer's Our Town "provides us with a master class in the fundamental art of making believe." His direction of William Inge's Picnic at the Chicago Writers' Theatre was named the "show of the year" with "rapt staging...way beyond praise" by the Wall Street Journal. In 2008, his Off-Broadway production of Adding Machine: a Musical and Chicago production of Our Town were both named as "memorable nights spent at the theatre this year" by the New York Times. His production of Orson's Shadow, originating at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, moved to Off-Broadway in 2005, his Off-Broadway debut. Among his regional credits, he has directed The Glass Menagerie with Annalee Jefferies as Amanda at Kansas City Rep. The Farnsworth Invention will be the fourth play that David Cromer directs at the Alley, following The Santaland Diaries, The Clean House and Orson's Shadow.

The Farnsworth Invention features Alley Theatre Resident Company Actor Jeffrey Bean as David Sarnoff (Alley's Mauritius, A Christmas Carol, Cyrano de Bergerac) and Brandon Hearnsberger as Philo T. Farnsworth (Alley's Mrs. Warren's Profession, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Unexpected Guest). Also featured are Alley Theatre Resident Company Actors James Black, James Belcher, Elizabeth Bunch, Justin Doran, Elizabeth Heflin, Paul Hope, Chris Hutchison, Charles Krohn, Philip Lehl, Emily Neves, Melissa Pritchett, David Rainey, John Tyson, and Todd Waite.

Also included in the cast are Sara Gaston (Alley's Rock 'n' Roll, The Man Who Came to Dinner), John Paul Green (Alley's The Lieutenant of Inishmore, A Christmas Carol), Justin O'Brien (Alley's The Man Who Came to Dinner), Ty Doran (Alley's A Christmas Carol, Much Ado About Nothing) and Sean Hardin (Alley's A Christmas Carol).

Brandon Hearnsberger as Philo T. Farnsworth in the Alley Theatre’s production of The Farnsworth Invention. The Farnsworth Invention runs on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage June 5 – June 28, 2009. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T Charles Erickson.

The design team of The Farnsworth Invention includes Scenic Design by Takeshi Kata (Alley's Subject to Fits, The Clean House, Orson's Shadow), Costume Design by Janice Pytel (Alley Debut. Broadway credits include 33 Variations, I Am My Own Wife), Lighting Design by Keith Parham (Alley Debut), Original Composition & Sound Design by Josh Schmidt (Alley's Mauritius, Eurydice, The Clean House ), Projection Design by Clint Allen (Alley's Rock 'n' Roll, Underneath the Lintel, The Clean House), and Dramaturgs Mark Bly (Alley Theatre Senior Dramaturg and Director of New Play Development) and Lauren Halvorsen (Alley Theatre Literary Associate).

The Farnsworth Invention is sponsored by Lead Sponsor Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. and The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts and Supporting Sponsor Baker Botts L.L.P. The Alley Theatre is supported by the 2008-2009 season sponsor Continental Airlines, the official airline of the Alley Theatre.

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to The Farnsworth Invention start at $21. All tickets for The Farnsworth Invention are available for purchase at www.alleytheatre.org, at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 Texas Avenue, or by calling 713.220.5700. Groups of 10 or more can receive special concierge services and select discounts by calling 713.315.3346. The added convenience of reservations by phone or Internet is available for a nominal fee.

PAGES & STAGES
Tuesday, June 16, 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM
Alley Theatre is partnering with the Houston Public Library and Brazos Bookstore for this new pre-curtain event. The perfect evening for the book worm in every theatre buff, this event combines the imagination of the written word with the excitement of live theatre. It is suggested (but not required) that patrons read the selected book that complements each Hubbard Stage production. Participants will enjoy a pre-curtain discussion group led by special guest Dr. William Douglas, with Alley Theatre Senior Dramaturg and Director of New Play Development Mark Bly, and then attend the performance. For The Farnsworth Invention , the selected piece is The Boy Genius and the Mogul: The Untold Story of Television by Daniel Stashower, available at the downtown branch of the Houston Public Library. Refreshments will be served. After the performance, readers can stay for an additional Talk Back led by Alley cast members and artistic staff. This pre-curtain event is complimentary with your ticket to the Tuesday, June 16, 7:30 PM performance of The Farnsworth Invention . To participate in the pre- and post-show discussions, a ticket must be purchased for the performance. Please call Lizz Eynatten at 713.315.5404, or visit www.alleytheatre.org for details.

CAPTIONED AND AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE
Saturday, June 6, 2:30 PM
The Alley Theatre is pleased to offer open captioning and audio description for many of our productions throughout the season. To ensure that your seats will accommodate your needs, please call the box office 713.220.5700 when ordering tickets to this performance. Discounted tickets are available for groups of ten or more. Call 713.315.3346 for more information.

James Black as Douglas Fairbanks in the Alley Theatre’s production of The Farnsworth Invention. The Farnsworth Invention runs on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage June 5 – June 28, 2009. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN
Saturday, June 6, 2:30 PM
The Pay-What-You-Can partner for The Farnsworth Invention will be Camp For All - an organization that provides a year-round camp experience for people of all ages with serious illnesses or special needs. The date is Saturday, June 6, beginning at 10:00am. The donated item will be 100% cotton all-white washcloths, for use at the camp this summer. The Alley Theatre continues its efforts to make the theatre affordable to patrons. Partnering with other social non-profit organizations, the Alley seeks to generate in-kind donations and reward patrons with Pay-What-You-Can tickets. Pay-What-You-Can tickets are available in person, the day of the performance only and are limited to two tickets per person and cost a minimum of $10, but patrons are encouraged to Pay-What-They-Can. Purchase in person at the box office (615 Texas Ave.) on the day of the performance only. Cash or check only. Limited availability.

MIX & MINGLE
Thursday, June 11, 6:00 PM - 7:15 PM
Mix & Mingle is a pre-show mixer that offers complimentary food, fun and fabulous new friends. To buy a ticket, required for the mixer, please contact the box office at 713.220.5700. For more information about Mix and Mingle, visit www.alleytheatre.org.

ACTOUT
Thursday, June 18, 6:00 PM - 7:15 PM
Houston's premiere theatre group for gay and lesbian theatre fans and their friends celebrate the Alley Theatre's production of The Farnsworth Invention. To find out more visit www.alleytheatre.org. For tickets call 713.220.5700 and mention "ActOUT." Participants must have a ticket to the performance in order to attend this pre-show event.

TALKBACK
Tuesday, June 16, 7:30 PM
Members of the cast return to the stage following the performance to take questions from the audience. TalkBacks are led by a member of the Alley Artistic Staff.

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A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION

A Review of The Farnsworth Invention, Written by Aaron Sorkin
An Alley Theatre Production, Directed by David Cromer

By Theresa Pisula theresa@houstontheatre.com and Nanci Levin Nanci_Levin@hotmail.com
June, 2009 Houston, Texas

On June 16^th, 2009 the Alley Theatre partnered with the Houston Public Library and Brazos Bookstore to create an event that combined the imagination of the written word and the excitement of live theatre. It was suggested (but not required) that patrons read the selected book THE BOY GENIUS AND THE MOGUL: THE UNTOLD STORY OF TELEVISION by Daniel Stashower. This event complemented each Hubbard Stage production of THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION, an Alley Theatre play written by Aaron Sorkin.

In the book, Daniel Stashower feels that the story has been misunderstood depriving Philo T. Farnsworth of due credit. Stashower recognizes Farnsworth, described as the boy genius from rural Idaho, as the inventor of Television. He celebrates Farnsworth’s achievement along with other American cultural heroes as Alexander Graham Bell (telephone), Thomas Edison (phonograph and light bulb) and Henry Ford (automobile). In The Farnsworth Invention written by Aaron Sorkin and produced by the Alley Theatre Philo T. Farnsworth’s story is told in 21^st century terms and in the most revealing and entertaining manner.

In this review of The Farnsworth Invention, my associate Nanci Levin and I found ourselves with diverse interpretations of the same story. We found ourselves on opposite ends of the subject of the invention of that magic black box sitting in everyone’s living room called Television.

Theresa: What do you think of the Farnsworth Invention?

Nanci: I loved it. Favorite play I’ve seen so far – ever.

Theresa: I agree. The Alley Theatre usually saves the best for last as far as the season.

Nanci: That would make sense.

Theresa: And this year is no exception. This play is soooo good. I can’t say enough about it. The Farnsworth Invention was written by Aaron Sorkin who wrote The West Wing.

Nanci: Thank God for Aaron Sorkin. For four years I pretended that the president on The West Wing (played by Martin Sheen) was my president. After the whole Al Gore thing, I could no longer watch the news being a news junkie for years. He saved my life.

Theresa: (Laughs) Yeah. Let’s talk about The Farnsworth Invention. The play itself is highly intelligent, like a lot of it went over my head. But it was very entertaining and historically significant. What do you like about the play?

Nanci: Everything.

Theresa: (Laughs).

Nanci: I mean I really liked everything. I liked that it was an intellectual play that you had to keep up with history. I really enjoyed seeing Jeffrey Bean who played David Sarnoff. That was my absolute favorite character.

Theresa: I didn’t like him very much (laughs).

Nanci: Loved him, I loved him.

Theresa: We have such different opinions. I don’t understand how you can see him as the protagonist in this play. To me, Farnsworth who invented television, the underdog throughout the whole play is the protagonist. I just think that David Sarnoff is ruthless, mean and antagonistic. To me, he stole the invention from Philo T. Farnsworth, the guy who actually invented TV.

Nanci: Philo is a likable character. But in my opinion, that is not what this story was about. He did have the potential to invent it. So did what, 5 other guys?

Theresa: Right.

Nanci: David Sarnoff had a scientist (a Russian named Vladimir Zworykin) and he sent Mr. Zworykin to visit Philo. And Philo being an…..awww shucks…..

Theresa: All-American……

Nanci: ….likable potato farmer’s son, he was just way too gullible. I mean Vladimir Zworykin didn’t come up to him and say, “Let me in your secret laboratory so I get to steal your ideas.” Philo invited him willingly. And there are personal reasons I like David Sarnoff so much. But in my opinion, that’s who the story is really about. The story is really about David Sarnoff not Philo T. Farnsworth.

Theresa: In my opinion, David Sarnoff is this greedy communications mogul.

Nanci: If that’s what you like to call him, I wouldn’t use the word mogul, but okay.

Theresa: (Laughs). In the beginning of the play they showed the young Philo T. Farnsworth coming up with the idea. He went up to his 9^th grade science teacher with the idea of Television. He even came up with the name: Tele from the Greek word meaning Distance and Vision to come up with the word TELEVISION.

Nanci: But that’s the thing. He came up with an idea……but obviously so did those other scientists. Otherwise it wouldn’t have been a simple glass tube that prevented David Sarnoff’s scientists from inventing it. Obviously they were already that far along.

It wasn’t because David Sarnoff stole the invention from Philo to get there. They were all just stuck on the casing. I mean, it could just come down to…we may just have different ideas. I don’t think that David Sarnoff was stealing from Philo T. Farnsworth.

We’re talking about a time, within that century where we made more progress in the industrial revolution, not unlike the arms race. It was like an industrial race. Farnsworth was an intelligent guy. He had the ability and he gave it away. But everything up until that point, you can’t say they stole it from him. How did they get that far when all they needed was to figure out how to make television work through that glass tube?

Even though the play is called The Farnsworth Invention, this is a story about David Sarnoff. Which is exactly why he is listed as #1 in the (Alley Theatre’s playbill) Who’s Who. It is about David Sarnoff, an immigrant kid from the turn of the century. They escaped the pogroms and came to the US. In 2 years he learned English, you could never tell he had an accent. He pulled himself up by his bootstraps, which is the epitome of an all-American.

Earlier you made a comment about Philo T. Farnsworth being an all-American. David Sarnoff is the epitome of what an American is. During that time, when many of those people came here to escape the pogroms they were so grateful. This could be why I’m a little more sympathetic towards Sarnoff than you are. It’s because this is how my family came here.

My great grandfather loved this country so much that at 54 years old, he went down and tried to join the army. I found the records online with his signature and everything. They wouldn’t let him because he was 54 years old. But he loved this country. They touched on it in the play. No one hired Jews at that time. No one hired them.

Theresa: In the play, do you remember how he got to the position where he was? David Sarnoff was the President of RCA (Radio Corporation of America). It was amazing at how the play gave you this history lesson in the most amusing way.

Nanci: Basically he walked into the wrong office and saw those guys on the telegraph machine. He became interested and in a very short amount of time, became the fastest and the best at transferring and receiving communications. And then what gave him the name was when that ship was going down, and he managed to tell everyone else to clear the radio waves. He was the only person receiving the names of the survivors.

Theresa: Another gripping scene was towards the end of the play during the actual court room drama. The courts were trying to decide who actually had the patent on the invention of television. Instead of arguing with each other, Philo T. Farnsworth and Vladimir Zworykin who are at opposite sides of the litigation at one point were actually enlightened with each other’s discoveries.

You’d expect them to be in the middle of this battle but they weren’t fighting, they were actually sharing information. They were in awe of what each other found out about how TV works. In court, amidst the judge and all those lawyers they were still trying to figure it all out.

Nanci: Right, because they were scientific minds. It makes me think about early scientists and philosophers. It wasn’t about battles. It was about sharing the information and growth and expanding their minds and knowledge. But unfortunately they were talking about an end product that was marketable.

So while they thought that way, they were getting money from corporations who wanted to capitalize on them. Zworykin was being funded by RCA. Philo didn’t want to have corporate funding because he didn’t want to invent something that someone else would ultimately own the patent on. I mean I’m not posting blame. Philo T. Farnsworth is a likable guy. But it’s just the way that business is.

Theresa: What do you think of the costumes? And that set, wasn’t it amazing?

Nanci: I liked it very much. I just love the clothes, the period and the shoes, really. I love the shoes! I want to get the shoes that some of those girls wore. I love the way that the stage was rotating, the way they transitioned from one scene to the next. I like the way they lighted and illustrated Philo T. Farnsworth’s written designs. I thought Wow!

Theresa: I know. The illustrations were ingenious. First of all, the setting onstage itself was so clever. The only way I could describe it was like being in a Chinese restaurant. And you’re sitting on a table in front of the lazy Susan and it’s rotating in front of you where you get to pick and choose the food that you like. But instead of on top of the table, they are actors rotating onstage. While the outer circle was rotating clockwise, the middle inner circle was rotating counter clockwise.

Nanci: Yeah.

Theresa: And then the illustrations. Brandon Hearnsberger who played Philo T. Farnsworth would draw his ideas on paper and it would come alive on a screen behind him where the point on the pen of his drawings were followed and illuminated by this neon green light against the black background. It was sort of like a computerized chalk board. I guess what they were trying to say again was that Farnsworth WAS the design.

Nanci: It was awesome. That was really cool.

Theresa: I don’t know what the director David Cromer did to accomplish this task but that was just brilliant. To be able to create that onstage with live actors trying to describe it on paper was simply amazing. And to think all this was all taken from a script being brought alive for the benefit of telling us the story or educating us with this history lesson. To be able to describe the mechanics of how television works on a live stage, that in itself was truly a cunning feat.

Even though it was highly intelligent and at times it went over my head, I could still follow it because of the illustrations. The drawings were illuminated on the big screen. But it wasn’t like a TV screen - it looked like somebody’s drawings! I’ve never seen anything like it. It wasn’t like a regular play or anything I’ve ever seen on TV.

Nanci: It was my favorite play. I cried at the end.

Theresa: Why? Is it because of what happened to Philo T. Farnsworth’s son? Is it because even though he struggled to make this his invention, he never got the credit for it at all?

Nanci: Not even close (laughs).

Theresa: (Laughs) Then why did you get emotional?

Nanci: I don’t think I really understood it at first. But when I looked back, the reason that I cried is because what this is – is a story about a man’s life. You think it’s a story about Philo T. Farnsworth.

Theresa: Right.

Nanci: I don’t. I think it is a story about David Sarnoff. The reason that I cried is because it told the story of Sarnoff’s life. If you think about it, he talked about where he started, coming here during the pogroms. What he did to try and get a better life. As he was growing up, how he got into business. What his business life was like.

And then the play ended by him taking us through the end of his life. Philo T. Farnsworth wasn’t there. David Sarnoff was there. It was the story about his life. And even at the end of his life, even from a business person’s perspective his slate is clean. He still always thought about that guy. That if only that guy Farnsworth would have taken the corporate funding that was offered to him.

He’s taken us through that time period from the turn of the century through the sixties. He took us through the years during the late 60’s when we went to the moon. He’s now an old man and he’s talking about how oftentimes he sits back and he wonders about this guy Farnsworth and he hopes that he’s still out there coming up with these great ideas.

To me, it was a unique story. But in a way, it was a story I feel like I’ve heard before. I know a lot of old Jewish men who came here to the United States after they escaped the pogroms. They did what they could to make themselves successful. Even though this country, the land of the free was at that time one of the most anti-Semitic places. They made themselves such a success. And sometimes that meant you can’t make everybody happy. You can’t cut the deck in the favor of multiple people. In the end it’s that street savvy business sense coupled with the compassion and the ultimate goodness. It was amazing to me how he was able to make David Sarnoff, that character so…it was a 3-dimensional character. That was amazing to me.

Theresa: In the playbill, David Sarnoff is quoted as saying “Competition brings out the best in products and the worst in people.” It’s unfortunate that they had to fight about it but the battle itself is essential. They wouldn’t have come up with the superior product if they didn’t compete at each other for it.

And Sarnoff wasn’t going to back down either. I read in Amazon.com that Farnsworth outlasted everyone else in his patent battle. But it was Sarnoff who famously said, “RCA doesn’t pay royalties. It collects them.” I understand your description of Sarnoff’s struggle from poverty. He did mention fighting the Cossacks. And I went to my husband and asked, “What’s a Cossack?”

Nanci: What did your husband say?

Theresa: It was going so fast. Let me tell you, I asked him this question right in the middle of this intellectually fast-moving play. I didn’t even have time to think about what was just said (laughs). I just figured a Cossack was a kind of Russian soldier.

Nanci: That one kid who told Sarnoff, “F--- you!” I’m telling you, every aspect, the hard struggle and the toughness, in the face of death. He’s in a new country and he’s going to learn this new language despite everyone around him. He’s going to educate himself….I could just relate to it so much. That’s why I think it’s so much more a story of David Sarnoff than Philo T. Farnsworth.

Theresa: Clearly, David Sarnoff had the upper hand. He was more experienced. He was already the president of RCA. He was more “in the game” already. How can Farnsworth compete with that?

Nanci: It wasn’t even about that. It was about the scientists. There were plenty of scientists in this race as well. Philo didn’t invent television. He did have an idea. But obviously so did at least a handful of other people. There were, I think 5 different other scientists from around the world in the race to create TV.

Five men across the world were researching this, but none of them could have gotten as far by themselves if they didn’t share their ideas. They all had similar ideas and they were going about it different ways. They were all having a problem. Zworykin went out to San Francisco into Philo’s lab and he was just absolutely thrilled. And in a way, it also shows a naïveté associated with Farnsworth. It doesn’t make him a good guy or a bad guy. It just is.

Theresa: It was all meant to happen the way it did.

Nanci: It’s a historical story. But what’s interesting about it was that it was a story about a man’s life through some very historical periods in our world and in our country. And that’s what made it so interesting to me.

Theresa: What do you think about this story as it relates today? I mean, everybody has a TV. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have my TV right now, you know? David Sarnoff foresaw that. He saw the implications of radio when it first came out.

Nanci: He saw that someone was going to walk on the moon. And that when they did, we would all be watching it on TV. It’s just amazing that the pioneers of that century, I don’t know their brains must have all exploded at one time. It was like, “Let’s have a brain explosion…” The most fascinating things came to be during that time. We had the automobiles, television, radio…..

Theresa: (laughs) airplanes….

Nanci: airplanes, electricity, the telephone. I don’t know why I’m not more sympathetic towards Mr. Farnsworth. And it’s not that I’m not. I can be sympathetic for Farnsworth without looking at David Sarnoff as a bad guy. The fact that Philo’s son died is horrible. So many kids died. We had one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. No one knew anything about it. A friggin’ strep throat killed his son.

Theresa: I thought that was interesting the way Sarnoff asked Farnsworth if he had to do it all over again, “…would you have done it any differently?” And he says, “The only thing I would have done differently is I would have invented the antibiotic for my son.”

Nanci: or a cure for strep throat.

Theresa: So, he spent all this time…wasting his time trying to invent television. But it’s not really a waste….

Nanci: That’s the magic of scientists and inventors. All of it was a waste of time until they create that one thing that would change the world. I loved that play and I would see it over and over again. When they came out I was the first one to stand up and start applauding. And I was crying (laughs). No I didn’t. I would have been too embarrassed for that. But I loved it!!! I absolutely loved it. There are not a lot of men left in the world like the men of that generation. Well, because most of them are dead now (laughs).

(L-R) Brandon Hearnsberger as Philo T. Farnsworth, Chris Hutchison as Cliff Gardner and Todd Waite as Vladimir Zworykin in the Alley Theatre’s production of The Farnsworth Invention. The Farnsworth Invention runs on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage June 5 – June 28, 2009. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

Theresa: Well these days, men are different. The times are different. We have the internet which is now being explored by people all over the world. For example, the brilliance of Bill Gates who at one point is the richest man in the world. He invented Windows and made computers user-friendly.

Nanci: There are some who say that he monopolized the industry. They took him to court for this. The federal government took him to court because they were concerned that he had a monopoly. And you know what? If I invent something and I come up with a patent for it and it’s mine. And I make millions and every manufacturer out there wants my product. And I can offer it to him for the cheapest and therefore it becomes more marketable. Who the hell is anyone to tell me that I’m doing anything wrong?

Theresa: See that was my question. You don’t think David Sarnoff was driven by greed? Even though Philo T. Farnsworth was the one who came up with the invention?

Nanci: I never said anything about greed. And who are you to judge whether a man is greedy or not? But a lot of times, I find true especially among immigrants is their drive to succeed.

Theresa: Right.

Nanci: It’s not about ending up with the biggest bank account. But it’s about success and survival. During the pogroms, they had their homes burned down. And let me tell you something, most of the time it didn’t happen that way. If you were still there when they came you weren’t going to take your little cart with your books and go. You were fleeing for your life! And this was by order of the ruler, the czar.

That’s what drove a lot of immigrants to the US. That’s what this country is founded on. It’s about the land of dreams. I’m sorry but if Bill Gates is greedy he’s also one of the biggest benefactors in the world. I don’t think that I have the right to say I believe him greedy and therefore, we must not allow him to sell his product.

Theresa: Do you remember when David Sarnoff said, “I stole it fair and square.” He was referring to Farnsworth’s invention. And he did steal it from him (laughs).

Nanci: He did. I wish you would just like David Sarnoff more, okay? (Laughs)

Theresa: I liked Farnsworth more. Because not only is he the underdog but they showed him coming up with the idea since he was in grade school. I just found that so endearing. And then his science teacher shows up in the court room. And all those lawyers and businessmen just laughed at him.

Nanci: You see Philo as the underdog but I also see David as the underdog.

Theresa: Yeah, I know. That’s where our opinions differ. And that’s what makes The Farnsworth Invention an intellectual and historical masterpiece.