playbill

Went to see the first preview of Inherit the Wind at the Lyceum Theater. The play is a fictionalized take on the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial. A teacher is put on trial for teaching evolution in a science class, contrary to biblical teaching, and a high profile trial with the great legal minds of the day ensues.

It is left in it’s historical context even though very similar issues are still being argued in today’s courtrooms. The Supreme Court just recently ruled it illegal to force the inclusion of Intelligent Design in public school science classrooms as an alternative theory to evolution, ruling it religious in nature rather than scientific and you would probably then have to include the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

The play was already really tight. It is a limited 16-week run. Christopher Plummer is amazing. I would watch him reciting the telephone book. I would watch him watch paint dry. He has great lines and is really captivating. He plays the character based on Clarence Darrow.

I find it funny that I already associate Brian Dennehy with two made-for-TV films he did based on real trials. Skokie based on a Free Speech trial. In To Catch a Killer he is scary, evil, serial killing clown John Wayne Gacy. He is also quite strong in Inherit the Wind.

There is a large cast and they are quite talented. Maggie Lacey does a great job as the conflicted Reverend’s daughter who happens to love the defendant. Byron Jennings is very righteous as the Reverend. Assorted townspeaople really add to the atmosphere – and seem like they are having fun.

I did not like Denis O’Hare as E.K. Hornbeck, a big city journalist who comes to town to cover the trial. He has great lines and I don’t enjoy his reading of them.

It is worth the price of admission to watch Christopher Plummer. I had seats in the first row on Stage. It is as though you are part of the jury. You sit facing the rest of the audience so at times you see people’s backs. At the same time tickets are cheap, $36 or so and you can’t get any closer to the actors. I recommend the experience; discounted tickets on the stage are also available at the fantastic Spring Awakening (am ready to see this for the third time, it is in heavy rotation on my iPod.) I am so excited to be seeing Duncan Sheik in May, he is supposed to be singing songs from Spring Awakening in addition to his stuff.

Related media:

Inherit the Wind (Book) Authors:Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee Manufacturer:Ballantine Books Released:20 March, 2007

Monkey Business: The True Story Of The Scopes Trial (Book) Authors:Marvin Olasky, John Perry Manufacturer:B&H Publishing Group Released:15 May, 2005

Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial And America’s Continuing Debate over Science And Religion (Book) Authors:Edward J. Larson Manufacturer:Basic Books Released:02 October, 2006

The Battle Over the Meaning of Everything: Evolution, Intelligent Design, and a School Board in Dover, PA (Book) Authors:Gordy Slack Manufacturer:Jossey-Bass Released:18 May, 2007

The Essential Words and Writings of Clarence Darrow (Modern Library Classics) (Book) Authors:Clarence Darrow, Edward J. Larson Manufacturer:Modern Library Released:12 June, 2007

Inherit the Wind (DVD) Manufacturer:MGM (Video & DVD) Released:11 December, 2001

Skokie (DVD) Manufacturer:Evg Released:12 February, 2004

To Catch a Killer (DVD) Manufacturer:Image Entertainment Released:21 September, 1999

Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast) (Music) Artist:Duncan Sheik, Steven Sater, Skylar Astin, Lilli Cooper, John Gallagher Jr., Gideon Glick, Jonathan Groff, Brian Johnson, Lea Michele, Lauren Pritchard Manufacturer:Decca Broadway Released:12 December, 2006