Galileo in Acapulco - A Theatrical Production for the International Year of Astronomy

The International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) celebrates astronomy and the 400th anniversary of the first recorded astronomical observations with a telescope by Galileo Galilei. The IYA was declared by the 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations and is coordinated by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). UNESCO (the UN agency for education, science and culture) has also endorsed it. The year was launched in Paris on January 15, 2009.

In 1609 Johannes Kepler published his Astronomia Nova, defending Copernican (heliocentric) ideas against the earth-centered theory of Ptolemy. Early in 1610, Galileo Galilei presented in the Arsenal of Venice the first telescope capable of observing the stars and planets and of confirming the heliocentric theory. Many believe that from these historic beginnings has sprung modern scientific method, by which Galileo’s successors have persistently pursued “the truth” against the often virulent opposition of traditionalist ideologues.

Galileo was persecuted by doctrinal zealots of the Roman Catholic Church, who insisted that the very idea that the earth moves around the sun was an affront to Holy Scripture, and therefore had to be false. Even when the papal astronomer, Christoph Clavius, confirmed Galileo’s findings as correct, the Church nevertheless considered Galileo to be a heretic. His writings were unacceptable, no matter how “true” they might be in some non-scriptural sense. The Inquisition forced Galileo to recant under threat of torture and death. Nevertheless, Galileo completed his writings on celestial mechanics (the “Discorsi”), which were smuggled out of Italy to survive and inspire others.

Berthold Brecht, the famed German playwright, wrote “Leben des Galilei” in 1938-39 while in exile in Denmark, persecuted by a different sort of ideologue, Adolf Hitler. Now, many years later, Prof. Rolando De la Mora, a renowned and respected Mexican playwright and director, has adapted Brecht’s work for a modern audience. It focuses on this struggle between “truth” (as personified in Galileo) and “doctrine” (as exemplified by the Inquisition). De la Mora’s script, named simply “Galileo,” is in Spanish. It avoids the explicitly Marxist agenda advanced by Brecht, and is considerably shorter and more unified. “Galileo” is a one-act play in 10 scenes, with a run time of about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

“Galileo” will premiere in Acapulco in the Fall of 2009, under the direction of Professor De la Mora, with presentations in the historic San Diego Fort and in the International Convention Center. Additional performances are planned for the theater of the IMSS (Social Security Building) downtown, and the “Casa de Cultura” in Costa Azul. The cast includes mainly seasoned actors as well as some debuts. Raúl Soto, a well-known actor in Acapulco, plays the lead. The script calls for about 25 other roles and over 40 costume changes during the performance.

Producing Galileo is The Ateneo Cultural Guerrerense de Literatura y Teatro A.C., a non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion of theater and literature in Acapulco and elsewhere in the State of Guerrero. Several other sponsors have provided support to this production in the form of financial backing as well as the contribution of time and skill, materials, and rehearsal space.

In the Author’s Resources Section of this article you will find a link to a web page dedicated entirely to this production, including sample videos, cast photos, and many other details.