Deepen the Mystery: Science and the South Onstage

By Lauren Gunderson

This first collection of award-winning full-length plays by Lauren Gunderson includes:

LEAP- A delightful, moving synthesis of science, history, and magic with a young Isaac Newton and two mysterious sisters. "LEAP features splendid language and easy confidence with heady material. Think Tom Stoppard,"-Creative Loafing

BACKGROUND-a time-twisting, science-drama about the inspirational study of cosmology and the devastating effects of denied credit. Based on a true story of Dr. Ralph Alpher.

PARTS THEY CALL DEEP-A hilarious southern drama with three generations of women in a Winnebego. "PARTS THEY CALL DEEP is a little gem,"-New York Times

"It is easy to imagine future theatrical success for Gunderson and this year's YPI winners,"-New York Times

"There's no denying she's one of the most formidably talented voices to emerge here in years."-Atlanta Journal-Constitution

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595379664
• ISBN13: 9780595379668
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 454 Pages
• Weight: 1.19 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An Amazing Race

Lauren Gunderson's "Deepen the Mystery" is an amazing race through some of her amazing work. her work takes science to a level beyond its steriotype of being boring. science becomes in evocative jouney of "how and why things are." she creates the world through science, as the greeks did through their myths. this book is one of my favorite read and by the end of it I shed my share of tears.

Great plays for science classes

For anyone interested in injecting some theatrical literature into their science classes, this book is a must. Last semester (fall 2005) we used "Leap" in our theatre-physics course with great success. The play generated great discussions about Newton, Newton's discoveries, and the nature of creative ideas. Similarly, "Background" was used in our introductory astronomy class during the segment on cosmology. The astonomy students universally (no pun intended) commented that the play brought the very abstract nature of cosmic background radiation down to a more personal level.

An Amazing Playwright

First of all, let me say I have yet to actually read her book, but I know from personal experience working with Ms. Gunderson on one of her most recent productions that this collection will review well across the literary boards. Lauren is supremely talented at what she does, especially at such a young age. For those of you interested in the evocative realms of science and historical fiction, Ms. Gunderson's work is right up your alley, so do yourself a service and pick up her first book! Nick Ocheltree Texas Lutheran University Dramatic Media Department