“Inherit The Wind”

***** In the last few years, we have been witness to a lot of arguments, both political and spiritual. Right now, during a very special and much heated Presidential Election, we read articles daily, hear stories on the air and of course, with the advent of the internet, we are getting all kinds of “gossip” that cannot be substantiated. What a perfect time for the Goodman Theatre to bring to life the powerful “Inherit The Wind”, the classic courtroom drama written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee ( FYI: this is not the Civil War Robert E. Lee) written back in 1955, roughly 70 years ago.

In this solid drama ( with several funny touches) superbly directed by Henry Godinez, we visit a small town where there is a school teacher who brought to his students the theory of “evolution” and Charles Darwin! This play takes us back to that time and what was known as “The Scopes Trial”. Can we allow our children to learn things that are not in the bible? How can anyone think that  we evolved from the monkeys and apes? Yes, if one looks at them closely, one can see they do resemble us in many ways, and they do things like we do, albeit, with less style and grace, but Darwin’s theory might be factual. In this story, two high achieving attorneys test the case as to whether or not we should be able to explore and see what life is all about. We should be able to think for ourselves and learn. After all, in the bible it says that God created Adam and Eve. They had two sons, Cain and Abel. The question arises, who did they mate with? Who did all the “begating” in the bible? Perhaps our teacher, Bertram Cates ( Christopher Llewyn Ramirez) was right, after all!

I won’t give away the story line, but will tell you that this cast was powerful. I always say that some plays need a tight ensemble to make it work, and this is one of those spots. While Harry Lennix is absolutely convincing   in the role of Henry Drummond, the Chicago attorney brought in to defend Bertram, and Alexander Gemignani is perfect inn the role of Matthew Harrison Brady, his opponent, it takes a village ( the ensemble) to truly make this production stand out as one of the year’s best!

Godinez and company have found the perfect cast of players: Charin Alvarez, Terry Bell, Hamid Dehghani, William Dick ( as the town Mayor), Meighan Gerachis, Lawrence Grimm ( in several roles including the radio announcer from WGN-Chicago), Kevin Gudahl ( as the trial Judge), Presley Rose Jones, Christopher Kale Jones, Mi Kane ( as reporter  E.K.Hornbeck),Ryan Kitley ( a strong Reverend Jeremiah Brown), Tyler Meredith ( Rachel Brown, “friend” of Bert and daughter of the town preacher),Thomas Murphy Molony, Robert Schleifer, Eric Slater and Penelope Walker. Together, this cast makes this 2 hours and 25 minutes ( including one 15 minute intermission) a delightful theater experience and at the same time, helps us understand why we need to be able to think for ourselves and understand the world we live in.

FYI- They have done some transitions to the Albert for this one, taking out several rows of seats on the main floor ( center). Collette Pollard’s set design is simple yet perfect, as it is the words and how they are said that truly tells this story. Jessica Pabst has done the costumes which are perfect for rural America in this period and the lighting (Jason Lynch) and sound (Richard Woodbury, who also did the original music) are right on.

“Inherit The Wind” will continue thru October 20th with performances as follows:

Wednesdays          7:30pm

Thursdays             2:00pm & 7:30pm

Fridays                  7:30pm

Saturdays             2:00pm & 7:30pm

Sundays                2:00pm

Stage: Albert Theatre

Show Type: Drama

Box Office: 312-443-3800

www.goodmantheatre.org

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Inherit The Wind”.

Inherit the Wind will Blow you Over!

****/4

I was not sure what to expect in this production of Inherit the Wind. Would it seem dated? Would it hold relevance? The answer is that this production is very much necessary in today’s climate with a relevance that will make it clear that it’s themes of a century ago resonate as strongly today in their modern incarnation over free speech and religious fanaticism.

Skilled Director Henry Godinez envisioned the stage setting that is jaw dropping from the beautiful woodworked ceiling, to the bridge that carries the actors out into the audience and therefore puts the audience into the action. Indeed, it becomes clear that we are the jury to judge what we see play out before us. Kudos to Goodman artistic director Susan Booth for allowing the major re-structuring of the performance space which required several seats to be removed for the production; it’s a move well worth the effort and cost.

So we, the audience and jury are asked to deal with the play’s and history’s central question: Bible vs. Darwin. What could seem dated is in reality a reflection of similar arguments that go on daily, not in a courtroom necessarily, but in our cultural existence. Current calls for Freedom of Speech and our right to speak our minds means this story is applicable directly  on our lives today. Godinez knows this and so he made us part of his staging. Brilliant.

Harry Lennix in the role of Henry Drummond (historically, this is legendary defense lawyer Clarence Darrow also known for the Leopold and Loeb case) connects with the audience (jury) as the great Darrow was known to do. Lennix channels Darrow’s charm and charisma which explained Darrow’s and now Lennix’s legendary success as a trial lawyer and performer.

Alexander Gemignani as Matthew Harrison Brady(historically this was Williams Jennings Bryan) is superb in playing the once 3 time Presidential candidate who never won the presidential torch, but is known in history as the father of banning the teaching of evolution in public schools. Sound familiar? It should.

And so it’s an historical trial….it’s a reflection of today…and it puts us all in the center of it. Bravo Godinez! And bravo to the amazing cast led by two irreplaceable leads: Lennox and Gemignani.

Inherit the Wind is a play written in 1955 about an actual trial which challenged teaching Darwinism in schools. Famously known as the “Scopes Monkey Trial,” (the defendant was John T. Scopes who was on trial for teaching Darwinism in school), the message of the play is as vibrant and important today as it was nearly 100 years ago at the time of the famous trial. The original trial pitted famed lawyer Clarence Darrow against failed and perennial presidential candidate Williams Jenning Bryan. Here characters based on this story are fabulously portrayed by Chicago’s Very Own Harry Lennox (from TV’s “Blackllist,” and many stage roles here in Chicago) and Alexander Gemignani (a well known Broadway performer) who plays the character based on Bryan. Also joining in the  conversation is the visionary director Henry Godinez who discusses why the play was selected for these times.

A really interesting look at character portrayal, and the power of the play.

Inherit the Wind plays only thru October 20^th at The Goodman Theatre and tickets for this hot show can be purchased at: www.GoodmanTheatre.org.

The link:

Inherit the Wind, a masterful production at Goodman Theatre through October 20th only! | WGN Radio 720 – Chicago’s Very Own

Paul M. Lisnek, J.D., Ph.D.