At the beginning of Mary Mae and the Gospel Truth I quote from scientist Brian Greene’s This I Believe essay: “I believe that the breathtaking ideas of science can nourish not only the mind but also the soul.”  So naturally I was interested in learning of a multi-media musical he has written, “Icarus at the Edge of Time.” in which he re-invisions the Icarus myth.  Icarus, who is defying his father by flying too close to the sun, finds that his wax wings are melting, and plunges into the sea.  Greene gives this a modern twist by putting Icarus in a space ship and defying his father by flying too close to a black hole.  But rather than having him disappear for ever, Greene has him re-emerging, though many years later, learning of all that has happened during the time he was gone.

Greene, on the closing night of the musical, told the audience he always disliked stories that told children if they disobeyed their parents they would die.  “People laughed.  Children squealed,” says Robert Leslie, writer of the article.

If you would like to read more about this production, and a brief interview with Greene, click here.