By Chenoah Eljan
Ada, Asmin & The Analytical Engine written by Sarah Kriegler and Deniz Aslan delves into the intertwined lives of two girls more alike than they are different: Ada Lovelace, the 19th-century mathematician often regarded as the first computer programmer, and Asmin, a contemporary newly arrived Turkish refugee trying to get her math homework done during COVID 19 lockdowns. The play explores the societal constraints for girls growing up in these two different times. It is both a reminder of how much the world has improved for girls and women in the past two hundred years and an alarming prompt about how much further there is to go.
The character of Ada Lovelace is brought to life with poise and delight by Ada Williams Kriegler. Kriegler captures Ada’s brilliance and passion, and the joy she feels for mathematics. The play skilfully integrates Ada’s historical context with her personal struggles, emphasizing her desire for recognition and the validation of her intellect.
Asmin played by Asmida Aslan, on the other hand, represents a modern voice grappling with the isolation of COVID19 lockdowns in a new country far from her home and her mother. Aslan’s portrayal of a disgruntled and bored teenager is pure honesty, you’d be forgiven for thinking she is playing herself.
The two characters are brought together across continents and time by a cat that crawls through their windows and leads them to each other. They name this cat Mrs. Puff. (It does not escape notice that in a play imploring its audience to think of women as more than wives one of the three lead characters name’s follows the antiquated tradition of declaring her marital status. Perhaps Ms. Puff will appear in future adaptations.)
Mrs. Puff is the handwork of Lemony S Puppet Theatre who know how to bring the magic of puppetry alive. Lemony S Puppet Theatre also contribute brilliantly to the solving of maths equations with clever mathematical formulas popping up above the characters’ heads. In Ada, Asmin & The Analytical Engine Lemony S Puppet Theatre genuinely make maths both fun and accessible.
The supporting roles are well played by Fiona Macleod and Oz Malik. They are both highly skilled actors who provide professionalism and presence to their various characters all the while mindful not to outshine the two young performers.
It is an excellent story and a very good production, and it is truly a shame that it had only a two-show run at this years’ Melbourne Fringe Festival. A longer run would have perhaps enabled the performers to pick up the pace in places where in lagged.
It is a welcome change to have a show like Ada, Asmin & The Analytical Engine at Melbourne Fringe which can, at times, be overweight in cabaret, comedy and satire. This play is nothing of the sort, it is thoughtful, measured and educational. It is ideal for people of all ages, but particularly wonderful for girls ages 8 – 12 when the limitations of gender roles begin to make themselves known and where any reminder to think big and make an impact can go a long way in changing the world for better.
