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SCENE IT: DARWIN, A CURIOUS MIND engages the mind, warms the heart
- Marina Griebenow
- Apr 11
- 5 min read
Marina Griebenow
Given the state of the world at present, it would probably behove us to heed the most quoted statement of the famous naturalist Charles Darwin, namely that it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one that is most adaptable to change.
It is, however, not only the state of the world that makes this particular quote relevant, but also the fact that this month Cape Town is hosting a number of events to celebrate Darwin’s visit to the Cape of Good Hope (Simon’s Town to be exact) during his voyage on the HMS Beagle from 1831 to 1836, shortly before Queen Victoria ascended to the throne in 1837.
One of the aforementioned events is a new play - DARWIN, A CURIOUS MIND – in which Sir Alexander McCall Smith succinctly gives the audience a bird’s eye view of the journey which Darwin described as the most important of his life and which forever changed our understanding of the natural world. It was life-changing for Darwin too as, up to that point, he had been contemplating becoming a country clergyman. The irony is not lost on us that today not all religions and religious look too kindly upon him and his theory of evolution.
As well-known theatre families in South Africa go, there is probably no family as prolific, widely traveled and enduring as the Ellenbogens: Nicholas and Elizabeth (Liz) Ellenbogen and their son Luke. As Theatre for Africa, the entire family used to travel up and down on this continent, building small theatres, writing and performing plays, and educating local communities. Abroad they even performed for the Duke of Edinburgh a number of times.
Recently Nicholas, well into his retirement, or so he thought, was encouraged by science educator Prof Mike Bruton to write and stage a play about Darwin for the intended Darwin200 celebrations. Nicholas, upon reflection, decided rather to direct the request to his childhood friend Sir Alexander McCall Smith, a highly entertaining and internationally renowned storyteller who to date has written more than 120 books that have been translated into at least 40 languages.
McCall Smith limits the cast to three characters: Darwin (Nicholas), the younger Darwin (Andrew Roux) and Emma, Darwin’s wife (Liz). There is an abundance of biographical and other information available on Darwin, particularly since the bicentenary of his birth and sesquicentennial of the publication of his seminal work On the Origin of Species in 2009. Having only three characters allows the playwright, among other things, to narrow the focus of the play to Darwin’s voyage aboard the HMS Beagle, Darwin’s relationship with the ship’s captain Robert FitzRoy, and his activities whenever they went ashore.
The introduction of an older and younger version of Darwin, imagining the two of them in conversation, is a useful vehicle to touch on the profundity of his theories and findings too, his intellect and sense of humour, as well as aspects of his later life. The script for the most part consists of lengthy monologues, by the two Darwins in particular, and a plethora of information is offered to the audience.
Owing to McCall Smith’s skill as a storyteller one does not feel pressurised to remember every single fact presented, but one can wallow in the adventure, exciting discoveries and intellectual pursuits. The language and style is characterised by long elegant phrases and a striking vocabulary that reminds us that Darwin was of the Victorian era.
To avoid the story from becoming tedious, McCall Smith employs one of his characters to provide distraction in the form of poetry. The monologues are interspersed by beautiful poems, recited by Emma, that comment or expand on the action at hand. Liz’s voice is strong and clear as a bell, lending further gravitas to McCall Smith’s words. The poem she recites when the story touches on Darwin’s visit to the Cape of Good Hope is very moving and creates a direct connection with the story of Darwin for each and everyone in the Galloway Theatre. Darwin had in all likelihood spent time two centuries ago in places that we too frequent or had engaged in activities similar to ours, such as hiking in the mountains around Simon’s Town, where the HMS Beagle had docked.
Nicholas inhabits Darwin’s character with the ease of many years of experience, his long grey beard adding to the physical appearance of his character. McCall Smith infuses the entire play with the gentle humour that Nicholas is so good at portraying. At one point, for example, Darwin explains why he is not really as dangerous as some people purport him to be by regaling us on his fascination with barnacles. He even offers to go into more detail but luckily Emma admonishes him, reminding him that there are more important matters to be discussed.
Andrew as the young Darwin carries the burden of about 70% of the narration and he does so admirably. Since both Nicholas and Liz spend large parts of the play seated stage left and stage right, Andrew has the freedom to use most of the stage so that the play does not feel too sedentary. (Director Luke Ellenbogen is clearly alive to the fact that his parents, aged 76 and 71 respectively, are not as agile as they were in their younger days and particularly Nicholas has been plagued by ill health in the recent past.) To allow the audience to embrace the illusion that they are two parts of the same person, Andrew appears even to subtly mimic some of Nicholas’s mannerisms and speech. McCall Smith has created a Darwin who is relatable and likeable and placed him in the hands of two very skilled actors.
Darwin spent a total of 19 days at the Cape. Apparently he could have had a very busy social calender, but he chose to spend his time as he had in South America and on the Galapagos Islands where he collected specimens and recorded his geological observations. Locally he did, however, meet with the scientist Sir John Herschel who by all accounts influenced him to develop his theory of evolution.
He also spent time at Cape Point where he studied the behaviour and characteristics of a troop of baboons. McCall Smith describes Darwin’s conclusions through Emma:
And if, in these particular observations,
We see ourselves, then that, I think,
Is because we once were they
And they are us, separated only by time.
I look away, their life is short,
And dominated by necessity;
I stop myself: is that not
The way we live, our human lot?
DARWIN, A CURIOUS MIND allows one to sit back and be submerged gently by a refreshing stream of information and entertainment that engages the mind, warms the heart and reminds us that we are the custodians of the irreplaceable treasures of our natural world.
Darwin ends the play on a hopeful note:
Will we destroy this fragile home that is our earth, this delicate planet with its myriad of life forms? We might, I suppose, because we are so convinced of our supremacy, our right to dominate and consume. If we do that, I suppose we might end up alone, with all other life forms consigned to extinction.
But I hope that will not happen.
We are more than that, you know.
We are indeed. Go and support this valiant and significant play by the Ellenbogens, Andrew and their friend Sandy aka Sir Alexander McCall Smith.
DARWIN, A CURIOUS MIND by Sir Alexander McCall Smith
Nicholas Ellenbogen as Charles Darwin, Andrew Roux as the younger Darwin and Elizabeth Ellenbogen as Emma Darwin
Directed by Luke Ellenbogen, assisted by Sarah Wolhuter
Lighting design by Luke Ellenbogen and Sarah Wolhuter
At the Galloway Theatre from until 13 April 2025 at 20:00 and Simon’s Town City Hall at 15:00 on 19 April 2025 and 20:00 on 20 April 2025.
