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Photograph 51 cover art

Photograph 51

By: Anna Ziegler
Narrated by: Matthew Arkin, Maxwell Caulfield, Miriam Margolyes, Jon Matthews, Darren Richardson, Nick Toren
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Editorial reviews

Anna Ziegler's play investigates the critical role played by British scientist Rosalind Franklin in the discovery of the DNA double helix, even as the findings were attributed to James Watson and Francis Crick. Ziegler shows the importance of the titular photo, taken by Franklin, in allowing the men their breakthrough, and portrays Franklin as a brilliant and fastidious scientist. The LA Theatre Works cast of Matthew Arkin, Maxwell Caulfield, Miriam Margoyles, John Matthews, Darren Richardson, and Nick Toren skillfully navigate Ziegler's shifting narrative structure, and Margoyles gives Franklin a headstrong steadfastness that makes her a truly compelling figure.

Publisher's Summary

Rosalind Franklin was a gifted research scientist who was part of the race to uncover the secrets of DNA in the 1950’s. Her more famous contemporaries Watson and Krick took all the kudos for the discovery of the molecule’s double helix structure – yet it was Franklin’s skill with X-ray diffraction that first uncovered what’s called “the secret of life”.

Includes an interview with Brenda Maddox, the world's foremost biographer of Rosalind Franklin and author of Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA.

Also includes and interview with Dr Pamela Björkman, the Max Delbruck Professor of Biology at the California Institute of Technology, and an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring:

Miriam Margolyes as Rosalind

Matthew Arkin as Caspar

Maxwell Caulfield as Wilkins

Jon Matthews as Watson

Darren Richardson as Gosling

Nick Toren as Crick

Directed by Michael Hackett. Recorded at the Invisible Studios, West Hollywood.

Photograph 51 is part of L.A. Theatre Works’ Relativity Series featuring science-themed plays. Major funding for the Relativity Series is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to enhance public understanding of science and technology in the modern world."

©2011 L.A. Theatre Works (P)2011 L.A. Theatre Works

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Review of Photograph 51

An excellent performance of a fascinating story. This play is very well worth the fairly short time it takes to listen to. There are a couple of bonus interviews at the end which are also excellent. Highly recommended!

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Go Science!

Anna Ziegler has captured such an interesting moment in Science, through her play script, that it makes you wonder about all those scientific moments we take for granted. Rosalind Franklin is both fascinating and flawed; and also dedicated and brilliant. This audio brings the text to life and kudos to Miriam Margolyes, who is the only one who could play Dr. Franklin so faithfully.

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Had to read it for school.

was pretty intresting but I had to read it for school so it saved me.

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