Arcadia

by Russ Roberts on June 1, 2009

Saw Arcadia, Tom Stoppard's play, last night at the Folger here in DC.

It's my favorite play written in the last 30 or 40 years. Maybe in the 20th century. Maybe ever.

It's laugh out loud funny. It will break your heart. Stoppard has profound and eloquent things to say about science vs. the humanities, the ambiguity of history, the pettiness of academia, and the sources of our deepest satisfactions in life. It's also about sex, chaos theory, free will vs. determinism, and how the way we view the world encourages us to shape our physical environment. It's about love and loyalty, dreams and curiosity.

It's here in DC till June 21.

If anyone out there knows anyone who knows anyone who knows him, please let me know. Would love to interview him for EconTalk.

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Solar Lau

It is a funny stuff.

It's a shame that i dont have the opportunity to watch this great play as i am not living in DC,....

But,your concise and informative post is very useful for me!!

Thanks a lot!

K Ackermann

Eric, why do you think that is?

Is it because, maybe, we become smarter between readings and incorporate our new knowledge to 'see' new connections?

Of course, some of the irony may become lost on us between readings, and we would not know it, right?

Blissful ignorance.

Dane

He's a little precious as a playwright, but I'm glad to see people writing about theater.

I think Stoppard's best is "The Invention of Love," dealing with the life of A.E. Housman. It's not nearly as ambitious as some of his other things, and that modesty of scope works to its advantage.

The Other Eric

I completely agree with Ackermann-- I've never seen the play, but have read and re-read it profitably.

K Ackermann

I have read and re-read the play over and over. Every time, I find something new.

nicole

I'll be crossing my fingers for someone to get you a contact. I would love to hear him on EconTalk!

gappy

I liked Arcadia a lot, and Rosencrantz and Guilderstern too. I have never seen them at the theatre though, and have never read anything else by Stoppard. Too bad I don't have a contact with him. Interviewing writers with an interest in organization and epistemology is a fantastic idea.

Side note: like probably many others, I am missing a new episode with Mike Munger.

Mike Gibson

I'm so envious of anyone in DC who gets to see this! The play is a masterpiece.

If you have to settle for watching, Charlie Rose has a series of interviews with Stoppard on his website. All of them are quite good.

tw

Haven't seen that play, but have thoroughly enjoyed his "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" parody of "Hamlet." Will keep an eye out for "Arcadia" in the future.