Bringing Back to Life the Work, Ideas of R. Buckminster Fuller

SAN DIEGO —  Anyone who didn’t get a chance to enjoy a lecture by futurist thinker R. Buckminster Fuller before his 1983 death can get a zesty morsel of the man at the Lyceum Space.

In San Diego Repertory Theatre’s “R. Buckminster Fuller: The History (and Mystery) of the Universe,” Ron Campbell offers a tour de force re-creation of a Fuller talk, one that demonstrates the man’s range--physical, metaphysical, intellectual, eclectic, challenging and largely entertaining.

The script, adapted and directed by D.W. Jacobs with help from Fuller’s daughter, is understandably difficult, covering Fuller’s nearly nine decades of life and encompassing his encyclopedic mind. Yet, with only rare lapses--”phenomenon” for “phenomena,” “between you and I”--Campbell handles the polysyllabic and esoteric explanations as deftly as the angular models that serve well as visual aids. At one point, for instance, he steps into a plastic polyhedron, then choreographs it and himself into a back-and-forth dance.

Naturally, considerable discussion is devoted to Fuller’s famed concept of “Spaceship Earth” and his striking and efficient architectural innovation, the geodesic dome. Campbell illustrates how Fuller’s thinking evolved after he realized that a triangle, rather than a square, is the world’s most stable basic shape. From that, he constructed tetrahedrons, then the flexible yet strong polyhedrons that became his trademark.

Campbell’s presentation is enhanced greatly by Annie Smart’s set. His speaking platform, covered by a world map, rests in front of a huge video screen that is used effectively for representative slides, pictures and films. All around are appropriate objects, like a Gramophone, a blackboard and those colorful geometric figures.

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David Lee Cuthbert’s lighting assists subtly and unobtrusively, as does Luis Perez’s underscoring sound design. Costumer Darla Cash had the easiest task, since Fuller decided, after a period of “eccentric” dress, to lecture in plain business suits so the audience would focus on what he was saying rather than any facet of his clothing.

The show’s only drawback stems from its subject. Fuller did so much, and knew so much, that it’s impossible, in a couple of hours, to do justice to even the highlights of his prodigious output. Too often, just as a topic gets involving, the script moves on to another. Still, it’s a fine sampling, and if it stirs people in the audience to learn more about Fuller’s words and works, so much the better.

* “R. Buckminster Fuller: The History (and Mystery) of the Universe,” Lyceum Space, Horton Plaza, San Diego. Tuesdays, 7 p.m.; Wednesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m. (plus April 5 and 19 at 2 p.m.). Ends April 23. $21-$34. (619) 231-3586. Running time: 2 hours, 5 minutes.