“In Tom Stoppard’s cerebral play, “The Hard Problem” the playwright explores René Descartes famous philosophical proposition, “Cogito ergo sum,” or, more roughly translated, “I think therefore I am.”
A young attractive researcher, Hilary (Alex Spieth), tackles a conundrum that has faced many scientists as she attempts to reconcile science with her faith. Her tutor-cum-paramour, Spike (Andrew William Smith), is an atheistic pragmatist, whereas Hilary clings to her religion. Their viewpoints are on opposite ends of the spectrum, and their post-coital conversation covers altruism, Darwinian evolution, probability, divine creation and, most importantly, altruism vs. egoism. Who doesn’t want to chat about non-overlapping magisteria after sex? The couple quarrels about art vs. science in their underwear, and it becomes a STEAMy affair…”
by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, Burgh Vivant
