In his 1993 play “Arcadia,” Tony- and Oscar-winning writer Tom Stoppard weaves such disparate themes as romanticism, the Age of Reason, thermodynamics, chaos theory and Newtonian physics into a complex dramatic tapestry spanning two centuries.

Sweet Briar College will present “Arcadia” Thursday, April 6 through Sunday, April 9 in the Babcock Fine Arts Center’s Murchison Lane Auditorium. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday.

“I believe ‘Arcadia’ is one of the wittiest and cleverest plays written in the last fifteen years,” Bill Kershner, director and SBC theater professor, said. “The characters are funny, the language is delightful, and the ideas are profound. Stoppard’s play is welcome to anyone who despairs at most of what is offered as entertainment, because it does not talk down to the audience.”

With the tagline, “Sex, death and literature,” however, it should be noted that due to some adult language the show may not be suitable for young children.

Tickets go on sale Monday, March 27 and are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for non-SBC students, and free for SBC staff, faculty, students and alumnae and children younger than 12. In addition, all students and teachers will be admitted free for the April 6 performance, and the Sunday matinee will be sign interpreted.

There also will be a pre-show dinner lecture in the Josey Dining Room in Prothro at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 6. Raina Robeva, associate professor of mathematical sciences, will address the fascinating mathematical issues discussed in the show.

At $6.75 per person, the dinner lecture is open to the public and consists of all items on Prothro’s evening menu, including vegetarian options, salad and beverage bars, coffee and tea, fruit and dessert.

To purchase tickets for dinner and show, or for more information, call 381-6120 or E-mail boxoffice@sbc.edu.

— By Suzanne Ramsey, SBC staff writer