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investigations range false in such unrealistic treatment. Christopher Muir... followed
Duerrenmatt's directions closely, imposing on television the geometrical pattern of the asylum common room with its three cell doors and the curiously clockwork behaviour of the characters. As though seen under a magnifying glass, the gripping features of the play showed clear and sharp; the only real and understandable figure, fortunately one central to the play, was given a worthy portrayal by Wynn Roberts (although one of his big scenes was cut). This was Mobius, the genius impelled by both fear and courage. Tension is well supplied to the second half of the play by, the unexpected twists of the plot, and the cold, lucid arguments of the three physicists were excellently focused in this production.
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102:, which is a psychiatric home for the mentally ill, run by a doctor and psychologist, Mathilde von Zahnd. The main room, where the play is set, is connected to three other rooms, each of which is inhabited by a patient. These three men, who are all “physicists” by trade, are permitted use of the drawing room, where they are monitored and checked on by the female nurses. Herbert Georg Beutler is the first patient, and he is convinced that he is
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documents. She reveals that she has been using his scientific discoveries to construct an international empire which she would later rule. She believes that King
Solomon is speaking to her, and she believes that with his guidance and Möbius' discoveries, she can become the most powerful woman on earth.
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It was one of 20 TV plays produced by the ABC in 1964. Chris Muir described the play as "full of the unexpected and rich in dramatic climaxes. It is also a play of black humour. DĂĽrrenmatt, while making us laugh at ourselves, makes us feel uncomfortable in the process by showing us our failings often
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Möbius is actually an incredibly brilliant physicist whose discoveries include such fabled results as a solution to the problem of gravitation, a "Unitary Theory of
Elementary Particles", and the "Principle of Universal Discovery". Fearing what humanity could do with these powerful discoveries, he
144:
In the play's climactic scene, the three men reveal their secrets, and each of the two spies attempts to convince Möbius to come with them. Möbius, however, persuades them that the secrets he has discovered are too terrible for man to know and assures them that their efforts are in vain because he
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These noble plans are quickly changed by the play's final plot twist; Fräulein Doktor
Mathilde von Zahnd enters the room and reveals to the three men that she has eavesdropped on their entire conversation. Furthermore, she admits to knowing about Möbius for years and has been secretly copying his
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Shifted the convincing effects in the play from the chaff of its thriller-comedy element. The light relief dialogue is there for the purpose of keeping a puzzled live audience amused, and on television this doubtful sprinkling of humour did not come through; similarly the two murders and police
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The story ends with a sense of impending doom. Möbius, "Newton", and "Einstein" have been tricked and trapped. The play ends with each of the men speaking to the audience, emphasizing their plight and the plight of all humanity. In their eyes, humanity was lost and could not be helped.
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At a mental asylum in Europe, police investigate the murder of two nurses who were assigned to three inmates, all physicists: Mobius, Beutler, and
Ernesti. Mobius imagines himself as in contact with King Solomon. Beutel and Ernesti maintain they are Newton and Einstein.
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It is revealed through their discussion that this is the second murder of a nurse by one of the three patients in just three months. The first having been committed by "Newton", which is later revealed to be a result of the nurse’s discovery of “Newton’s” real identity.
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recently burned all the papers that he developed during his time in the sanatorium. After much debate, the three men finally agree that they are content to protect humanity by living out the rest of their lives in captivity, while furthering and serving physics.
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Once the play begins, it is revealed to the audience that "Einstein" has just killed one of his nurses, and the police are examining the scene. The “Inspector” continuously questions Fräulein
Mathilde von Zahnd and indirectly insults the “mentally ill” patients.
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The motives behind the two murders become clearer as the play advances into the second act, where it is revealed with startling abruptness that not even one of the three patients is actually mad; they are all only faking insanity for various reasons.
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in order to secure Möbius' documents and, if possible, the man himself. Each spy had to murder a nurse to protect his secrets and to strengthen his simulation of madness, as well as to further conceal their identities.
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However, he failed to avoid attention which he so dearly feared. "Einstein" and "Newton" are both spies, representatives of two different countries, and they have infiltrated the
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BBC radio version 17/10/1963 (repeated 8/11/1963 & 5/3/1972) produced by
William Glen-Doepel; and BBC World Service radio versions from c1981 & 7/7/1991.
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The play had been first produced in London in
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in
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feigned madness, in hopes that he might be put in a home for the mentally ill and thus be protected along with his knowledge.
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in 1962 and published the same year by
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503:. Vol. 38, no. 10894. 8 July 1964. p. 18
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The play was adapted for Australian TV in 1964 by the
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation television plays
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56:. The play was mainly written as a result of the
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545:"The Physicists Black Humour from ABV-2"
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168:as Mathilde von Zahnd in a 1963 play by
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95:The story is set in the drawing room of
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269:as Newton, John Bett as Einstein, and
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563:"ABC Plans to Show Significant Works"
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83:, and published in the US in 1964 by
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1427:Great Expectations: The Untold Story
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60:and many advances in science and
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569:. 20 February 1964. p. 13.
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551:. 28 May 1964. p. 13.
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587:. 9 July 1964. p. 8.
1115:A Ride on the Big Dipper
751:The Execution of Justice
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315:Robert Peach as Ernesti
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1505:Apocalyptic literature
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435:"Friedrich Durrenmatt"
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261:as Doctor von Zahnd,
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859:The Duke in Darkness
648:Friedrich DĂĽrrenmatt
495:"Doctor. drama on 3"
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1460:Plays about science
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360:The critic for the
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48:written in 1961 by
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1406:(1975) (TV series)
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157:Adaptations
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