I remember back a few years ago, when I first heard that Aaron Sorkin was working on a project (at the time, it was going to be a movie) about the guy who invented TV. I thought, “Hmmm…really?”

Then it kind of went away. I didn’t really think about it again until a couple of months ago, when I picked up one of those free “things to do” weekly tabloids that was lying around, and I saw that the Kavinoky Theater would be staging The Farnsworth Invention this May. Even though I was initially skeptical about the concept, I am enough of a Sorkin fangirl that I knew I would have to see it.

Fortunately for me, Rand feels the same way, so I didn’t have to convince or drag him along! We saw it last week, and it was utterly and completely fantastic.

Rather than recount the plot, I will give you this description (from the Kavinoky webpage):

It’s 1929. Two ambitious visionaries race against each other to invent a device called “television.” Separated by two thousand miles, each knows that if he stops working, even for a moment, the other will gain the edge. Who will unlock the key to the greatest innovation of the 20th century: the ruthless media mogul or the self-taught Idaho farmboy? The answer comes to compelling life in THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION, the new play from Aaron Sorkin, creator of The West Wing.

(aside–I started this post nearly a week ago)

The dialogue was as snappy and playful as I’ve come to expect from Sorkin. No, they didn’t really do the whole “walk and talk” thing (which was actually Rob Reiner’s idea anyway), and Gilbert and Sullivan didn’t make a single appearance. 😉 There were a couple of moments that we’ve seen before–the one (where I assume this whole idea came from) from Sports Night where William H. Macy talked about Philo Farnsworth’s brother-in-law learning how to blow glass so he could help, and another from The West Wing that had to do with space exploration.

The story isn’t 100% factually accurate. Some details are tweaked and adjusted to suit the dramatic structure of the play, and I’m fine with that.

And yes, in fact, I did cry. Sorkin has a way of doing that to me. See: every episode in the first season of The West Wing.

All of the actors did a beautiful job with their roles. This was my first time at the Kavinoky (despite having been a student at D’Youville, AND being married to a guy who happens to work there), and I loved the intimate setting.

The Farnsworth Invention is running for another week (through May 31), and I highly recommend it, if you’re so inclined.

Oh! And they apparently loved doing Sorkin so much that A Few Good Men is on next season’s schedule. YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH. 😉

Clicky: The Kavinoky Theatre (for more info)