Inherit the Wind : power and tension between the two lawyers was there some of the time….of this 56 year old courtroom drama.
Given that Inherit the Wind was first staged in 1955 and that the play was based on the landmark Scopes “Monkey trial” of 1925, it is tempting to say that the 56-year-old courtroom drama is dated. But as close to 50 per cent of Americans still say Darwin was wrong and Creationists who take the bible literally are right, little appears to have changed in the Bible Belt’s view of the world.
Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee wrote Inherit the Wind in the McCarthy era, during the U.S. witch hunt to root out any vestiges of communism (real or imagined), thereby adding further texture to a drama that puts the right to think on trial.
Today, the play creaks a bit, though the core of intellectual freedom remains as relevant as ever. And the battle of the legal Titans, Matthew Harrison Brady — a thinly veiled version of failed presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan — and Henry Drummond — an even more thinly veiled version of Clarence Darrow, still has the potential for tremendous punch.
The power and tension between the two lawyers were there some but not all the time on opening night of the Ottawa Little Theatre production, partly because stumbles over lines periodically interrupted the rhythm of otherwise strong performances.
Don Quiring presents Brady as gentlemanly, avuncular, sometimes arrogant and always blinkered. He is at his best in delivering a portrait of Brady at breaking point.
Tom Charlebois delivers a Drummond that has a number of similar characteristics (lawyers Bryan and Darrow were good friends at one time). But his characterization replaces bigotry with idealism and charisma with analytical thinking as he fights for his client’s right to intellectual freedom.
As the smiling reporter E.K. Hornbeck—a.k.a. H.L. Mencken—Jamie Kohlmeier is lively and appropriately cynical.
Corey Pelow as the assistant prosecutor and Charles Stanton as the mayor give considerable authority to their relatively small roles, while most of the rest of the cast indicate a clear understanding of what is expected of them, whether or not they always achieve their goal.
In setting the mood, Arlene Watson’s singing has a huge impact Her terrific solo rendition of Old Time Religion as she makes her way slowly through the auditorium on to the stage is undoubtedly one of the high points of the production.
Director Tom Taylor focuses on tableaux and symbolism throughout—on occasions a little too much to the detriment of the show’s pacing. But the effort is worthy and, with its massive cast and wordiness, this is an extremely difficult play to mount.
Inherit the Wind continues at Ottawa Little Theatre until October 1, 2011.
Inherit the Wind (Ottawa Little Theatre)
By Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
See reviews by Iris Winston, Alvina Ruprecht, Patrick Langston and Rajka Stefanovska
An Ottawa Little Theatre Production
Director: Tom Taylor
Set: Mark Ashley Ryder
Lighting: David Magladry
Sound: Gwen Davie
Costumes: Peggy Laverty
Cast:
Soloist/Mrs. McLain………………………………….Arlene Watson
Rachel Brown………………………………………Jenny Sheffield
Meeker………………………………………………..Brian Cano
Bertram Cates…………………………………………Andy Moggridge
Mr. Goodfellow……………………………………….Riley Brockington
Mrs. Krebs…………………………………………….Lauree Laing
Rev. Jeremiah Brown…………………………………Tony Adams
Sillers………………………………………………….Mike Hefferman
Dunlap…………………………………………………Stewart Grenzowski
Tammy…………………………………………………Robyn-Lee Hotte
Mr. Bannister…………………………………………..Geoffrey Wale
Melinda…………………………………………………Ainsley Shannon
Mrs. Loomis…………………………………………….Mary Lee Grimes
Hot dog seller……………………………………………Peggy Laverty
Mrs. Blair……………………………………………….Sharron McGuirl
Elijah……………………………………………………Penu Chalykoff
E.K. Hornbeck………………………………………….Jamie Kohlmeier
Hurdy-gurdy person………………………Glynis Ellens/Emily Soussana
Mayor…………………………………………………..Charles Stanton
Matthew Harrison Brady……………………………….Don Quiring
Mrs. Brady…………………………………………..…Michele Snyder
Tom Davenport…………………………………………Corey Pelow
Henry Drummond………………………………………Tom Charlebois
Judge……………………………………………………Joel Rahn
Harry Y. Esterbrook/Reporter………………………….Andrew Stewart