Ada And The Engine
by Lauren Gunderson

Name: Ada And The Engine
Brand: Lauren Gunderson
SKU: 9780822237709
Rating: 4.2 (84 reviews)

Ada And The Engine Book Cover — Ada And The Engine Cover

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

Male

120 mins Victorian (British and American) Expandable Casting Flexible Cast Size Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle) Unit Set/Multiple Settings Period Costumes American Historical

Synopsis

As the British Industrial Revolution dawns, young Ada Byron Lovelace (daughter of the flamboyant and notorious Lord Byron) sees the boundless creative potential in the “analytic engines” of her friend and soul mate Charles Babbage, inventor of the first mechanical computer.

Ada envisions a whole new world where art and information converge—a world she might not live to see.

A music-laced story of love, friendship, and the edgiest dreams of the future.

Jane Austen meets Steve Jobs in this poignant pre-tech romance heralding the computer age.

Themes Babbage, Charles , 1791-1871 Lovelace, Ada King , 1815-1852 PS3607.U5473 A33 2018 Women inventors--England--19th century--Drama Women inventors Women computer programmers Women computer programmers--England--19th century--Drama

Press Reviews

"Gunderson finds plenty of intriguing matter in the story she tells, zeroing in on the knowns and unknowns in the relationship between Ada and Charles Babbage."
— San Francisco Chronicle

"The [script is] succinct and pithy, moving story and emotions along at the clip of an electronically infused calculation."
— Repeat Performances

"Ada and the Engine is a rare and special artistic achievement: an intelligent play about intelligent historical people that has been crafted by intelligent theatre artists for an intelligent audience."
— My Cultural Landscape

"Gunderson makes both the intimate friendships between Lovelace and Babbage (progenitors of the not yet named field of computer science) and their efforts to imagine the marvelous possibilities of steam-powered brass-and-steel brains palpable. A truly fascinating portrait of two lives whose significance to our world would not be fully appreciated for over a century."
— Washington City Paper

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Lady Anabella Byron 35 to 55. Ada’s mother, harsh strict, jealous? Yes. But realistic. She has had a hard life largely due to Ada’s father. Projects his sins on her.	female	35-55	35 to 55. Ada’s mother, harsh strict, jealous? Yes. But realistic. She has had a hard life largely due to Ada’s father. Projects his sins on her.
Charles Babbage 40 to 60. Ada’s soul mate, friend, mentor. Lauded genius of London. A holder of famous salons, an inventor, a mathematical scholar, a dreamer who just cannot seem to make his dreams into the metal they require to be real. Almost perfect for Ada. Almost.	male	40-60	40 to 60. Ada’s soul mate, friend, mentor. Lauded genius of London. A holder of famous salons, an inventor, a mathematical scholar, a dreamer who just cannot seem to make his dreams into the metal they require to be real. Almost perfect for Ada. Almost.
Lord Lovelace 25 to 45. A gentleman who becomes Ada’s husband. He’d rather that he was more rich and more lordly, but he’ll manage with his lot. A proud man. A wanting man. A serious man. Is not madly in love with Ada, but she’ll do just fine. (Can be doubled with BYRON.)	male	25-45	25 to 45. A gentleman who becomes Ada’s husband. He’d rather that he was more rich and more lordly, but he’ll manage with his lot. A proud man. A wanting man. A serious man. Is not madly in love with Ada, but she’ll do just fine. (Can be doubled with BYRON.)
Mary Sommerville 40 to 60. Charles’ friend and colleague and Ada’s mentor. There are no women as successful and respected in science and math as her. Pragmatic, sharply friendly, someone who will tell you when you’re wrong. (Can be doubled with LADY ANABELLA BYRON.)	female	40-60	40 to 60. Charles’ friend and colleague and Ada’s mentor. There are no women as successful and respected in science and math as her. Pragmatic, sharply friendly, someone who will tell you when you’re wrong. (Can be doubled with LADY ANABELLA BYRON.)
Byron 36. A charming man, darkly funny, unpredictable, emotional, brooding but self-aware. A poet. The play may be performed with 6 actors or 4 actors; doubling is indicated above.	—	36	36. A charming man, darkly funny, unpredictable, emotional, brooding but self-aware. A poet. The play may be performed with 6 actors or 4 actors; doubling is indicated above.
Ada Byron Lovelace 18 to 36. Curious, funny, brilliant, aware of her brilliance, stories, aware of her story. Never met her famous father. Tries to be a “good girl” but just cannot help her curiosity and love of all things impossible. A woman of our time stuck in hers.	female	18-36	18 to 36. Curious, funny, brilliant, aware of her brilliance, stories, aware of her story. Never met her famous father. Tries to be a “good girl” but just cannot help her curiosity and love of all things impossible. A woman of our time stuck in hers.