The Sisters; or Galileo’s Penance

Galileo was known for many things. He is considered to be the father of observational astronomy having discovered three of Jupiter’s moons. But do many people know that he fathered two daughters? I certainly didn’t. Well that all changed as I entered The Butterfly Club, ordered a neat gin and soda and sat down to watch The Sisters; or Galileo’s Penance.

Turn your mind back to 1600s Italy. This is where we meet sisters – both in the familial and the religious sense – Livia and Virginia who spend their days languishing in a convent, closed off from the world. Within their confines, Virginia a.k.a. Sister Mary Celeste (Jacinta Scadden) says penance for Galileo, who was tried and condemned for his heretical practices. Meanwhile, Livia a.k.a. Sister Arcangela (Danielle Robinson) looks on with growing disdain and agitation.

Once Livia is essentially fired from the convent infirmary and is unable to flex her interest in science and medicine, the sibling relationship falls to pieces, revealing layer upon layer of feelings of jealousy, resentment and inadequacy. But through all the complexity, can the sisters ultimately see past their differences or continue to turn against each other?

‘I wanted to tell a story about family, about people you are stuck with even though they know exactly which buttons to push to irritate you. And I wanted to show their struggle for meaning, for knowledge, in a way that people today could relate to,’ says writer and director Sharmini Kumar.

Produced by 24 Carrot Productions, the two-woman show is a story about women who have been abandoned in the world. Scadden and Robinson’s captivating portrayals of Virginia and Livia give voices to two women who are forsaken by patriarchal norms in a time where their talents and frustrations are unrecognised, unqualified and unappreciated.

If this sounds right up your alley, then be sure to catch Jacinta Scadden in 24 Carrot Productions’ upcoming show, Joan of Arc, which is scheduled for 28–31 June.

The Sisters; or Galileo’s Penance is sixty minutes of science, religion, excellent nun costumes and minimal props – all of which make for an entertaining ride.

The Sisters; or Galileo’s Penance 
The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, off Little Collins Street, Melbourne CBD
thebutterflyclub.com