Galileo at the Wilma: Norm Roessler and Gary Pratt Interview Walter Bilderback May 16, 2007
Galileo at the Wilma: Norm Roessler and Gary Pratt Interview Walter Bilderback May 16, 2007
In the final part of our Galileo segment we talk once again with the Wilma Theater Dramaturge, Walter Bilderback. At this point, it has been over a month since we first spoke with him and the production has enjoyed its premiere and an extended run of one week. Our conversation took place in Ludwig’s Garten, a German restaurant around the corner from the Wilma Theater in Center City Philadelphia. My colleague at Temple University, Gary Pratt, joined us for the discussion. Gary had attended the production and two of the panel discussions. The last panel discussion had been held a week before. Entitled “Science and Religion in the 21st Century” it was moderated by John Timpane the Commentary Editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer and included an exceptional panel, including Edward B. Davis (Messiah College), Owen Gingerich (Harvard University), William Grassie (Temple University), Marc D. Hauser (Harvard University).
The Guerilla Theater aesthetic is eminently on display in this conversation. The background music and chatter is loud, the food and beer is obviously being enjoyed, and intellectual conversation is flying around freely. Resembling more of a segment from Brecht’s Messingkauf Dialogues than an interview, the discussion attempts largely to understand the Galileo Project panel discussions as a performative event working hand-in-hand with the actual production.
