If you want to experience theatre enchantment, go watch Ron Campbell in playwright/
director D.W. Jacobs’ “R. Buckminster Fuller the History (and The Mystery) of the Universe.” It’s an unforgettable experience.
Campbell submerges himself into the character, Fuller, who was a unique creation in the first place and whose thinking had the admiration of Albert Einstein. Fuller never graduated from college (he was kicked out of Harvard twice), went on to publish 30 books and was involved with inventions that covered everything from the Geodesic Dome, architecture, waterless toilets and the Dymaxion car. He was also the second president of Mensa. He was a visionary, architect, educator, engineer and philosopher.
Campbell creates Fuller’s explanations of complicated subjects so simply that you marvel at your own understanding. Jacobs took much of the dialogue from Bucky’s writing and lectures, which flows for 2.5 hours and shows the true genius of the man and the actor.
Campbell has been touring with Cirque du Soleil’s “Kooza” for five years, through Europe, Japan and North America, as one of the lead clowns. This brilliantly gifted actor brings the amazing genius to life, transporting the audience up to the level of the material without losing any meaning.
Bits of Bucky’s life are offered in his admitted failures, the guilt he always felt for the loss of his first daughter from polio and his suicide attempt, which historians claim did not happen. They claim he used it as a foundation in his lectures for themes he believed in.
David Lee Cathbert’s set and lighting is simple and replicates Fuller’s area: a chair, a table, a phonograph player, a doodled blackboard, all which come into play throughout the performance. A screen covers many explanations and at times shows the actor in close-up explanations.
Jacobs touches on only bits and pieces of Fuller’s life, but it is enough to give us a gourmet’s taste of this gifted mind, and is delivered superbly by Campbell.
Where: San Jose Rep Theatre, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose
Through: Feb. 23
Details: (408) 367-7255.
