Cast of Characters

Stockholm, 1777

ANTOINE LAURENT LAVOISIER, 34 years old. (French chemist, tax collector,

economist, and public servant; discovered oxygen).

MARIE ANNE PIERRETTE PAULZE LAVOISIER, 19 years old. (Wife of the above).

JOSEPH PRIESTLEY, 44 years old. (English minister and chemist; discovered oxygen).

MARY PRIESTLEY, 35 years old. (Wife of the above).

CARL WILHELM SCHEELE, 35 years old. (Swedish apothecary; discovered oxygen).

SARA MARGARETHA POHL (FRU POHL), 26 years old. (Became MRS. SCHEELE

three days prior to Carl Wilhelm’s death).

COURT HERALD (off-stage male voice).

Stockholm, 2001

Prof. BENGT HJALMARSSON, member of the Chemistry Nobel Prize Committee of the

Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. (Same actor as ANTOINE LAVOISIER).

Prof. SUNE KALLSTENIUS, member of the Chemistry Nobel Prize Committee of the

Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. (Same actor as CARL WILHELM

SCHEELE).

Prof. ASTRID ROSENQVIST, chair of the Chemistry Nobel Prize Committee of

the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. (Same actress as MRS. PRIESTLEY).

Prof. ULF SVANHOLM, member of the Chemistry Nobel Prize Committee of the Royal

Swedish Academy of Sciences. (Same actor as JOSEPH PRIESTLEY).

ULLA ZORN, a graduate student in the History of Science and amanuensis to the

Chemistry Nobel Prize Committee. (Same actress as FRU POHL).

Technical Details

The staging can be sparse (sauna bench; conference table; laboratory demonstration table). All audiovisuals, provided by the authors, are to be projected on a large screen, preferably by rearward projection. To provide for rapid alternating costume changes between 1777 and 2001, the 1777 dress code should be distinctive yet simple (e.g. use of wigs, long coats with easily attachable ruffled collars for men; distinctive (buckled) shoes; wigs, mobcaps, scarves, long dresses for women, etc).