Play review – “The Farnsworth Invention” by Aaron Sorkin

Sorkin’s return to the stage was originally envisioned as a screenplay and at times you can tell, especially in the scenes of Farnsworth and Sarnoff as children. There is too much commenting on the action for these moments and showing off of research, but when Sorkin relaxes and lets the human emotion take over this is bright, tangy entertainment. Like most Sorkin pieces there are long soliloquies about hope and overcoming adversity; there's also a loyal, wisecracking secretary. The story is ultimately downbeat so it doesn’t stir you the way The West Wing does – but it’s adult and quite powerful. The work this most reminds me of is The Great Moment, the Preston Sturges film about the guy who invented ether.