Quantum Company

Two scientists who invented methods to observe and measure the behavior of tiny particles, a key step toward developing powerful quantum computers, were awarded the Nobel Prize in physics Tuesday. Working independently, American David J. Wineland of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Serge Haroche of France developed ways to study individual particles of matter and light without destroying them, a feat that was previously thought to be impossible because quantum particles lose their special properties when anything interacts with them.

Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" can be many things, but the maiden production of the Quantum Theatre Company at the Whitmore-Lindley Theatre Center clearly indicates that the rise and fall of this Caesar can't be turned into a good old hustings campaign, American-style. That's the concept here, and given the news these days, it was probably irresistible.

"When Tigers Smoked Long Pipes" at the Victory Theatre Center takes its intriguing name from the Korean equivalent of "Once upon a time" -- an introductory figure of speech situating a story in the realm of the fantastic. The five Korean folk tales that make up this colorful, family-friendly anthology offer a refreshing combination of unfamiliar narratives and universal themes -- an exotic departure from more-familiar Western mythology that helps bridge cultures while it entertains.