Spring Break
HTG sweeps away audience with 'Inherit the Wind'
by Marianna Faynshteyn
Staff Writer
Arts | 11/25/08
Posted online at 12:42 AM EST on 11/25/08
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Before going to the show, I was surprised to find so many people who were familiar with Inherit the Wind, either in its cinematic incarnation or its literary form. Most, however, hadn't seen it performed and were walking into this production with visions of Spencer Tracey and Gene Kelly. I was not afforded this prejudice and am grateful for it. HTG's production does not stir images of Tracey or Kelly, whether or not the film resides somewhere in your subconscious. And while as an ensemble it falters at times, it provides moments when it combines all of the merits theater has to offer to engage an audience the way a film simply cannot.
Inherit the Wind, written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, captures the drama of a small town wrestling with the issue of creationism and evolution in the early 20th century. Hillsboro (said town) becomes the site of controversy when a schoolteacher, Bertram Cates, presents Darwin's theory to his seventh-grade science class. Enter Matthew Harrison Brady, a politician and champion of restrictive religious thought, and Henry S. Drummond, an agnostic, renowned lawyer known for his well-fought but mostly lost legal battles. The town unravels along with the case as citizens contemplate the ideals handed down to them and the possibility of thinking without the confines of religion.
There was a range of performances among the cast, some astounding, some more or less pleasing and others generally lackluster. The cast affirmed the long-held tenets of theater and roles, the ones about small versus large, role versus actor. Jordan Warsoff's '11 rendition of Meeker, the slow-witted jail keeper, was endearing, and though his lines were few, he established his presence whenever he walked on stage. Similarly, as the illiterate Bible-seller Elijah, Ernest Paulin '09 shook the set with the coarse reverberation of his voice, calling to mind the Hallelujah-shouting holy men who inhabit the corners of Times Square.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 9
john H
posted 11/25/08 @ 6:11 AM EST
Great review. I agree with almost all of it. Especially the part about the evolution lawyer, who stole the show.
The only part I don't agree with is about the reverend, who I believe played his character well. (Continued…)
Daniel L
posted 11/25/08 @ 11:46 AM EST
As a member of the cast of Inherit The Wind, I think there's one name that was left out of this review that needs to be mentioned - Marti Dembowitz, our director. (Continued…)
Alex D
posted 11/25/08 @ 3:15 PM EST
I am disappointed with your assessment on Daniel Katz as well. As a cast member, working on all scenes daily, I've come to understand the characters a lot more than how they seem on paper. (Continued…)
Sarah S
posted 11/25/08 @ 10:54 PM EST
Actually, Avram has been in a show every semester for the last 2 years. I hardly count that as "rarely seen." He is a very talented student and it becomes obvious show after show. (Continued…)
Marianna F
posted 11/26/08 @ 2:12 PM EST
First off, thank you for the comments, whether complimentary or not--I'm always curious to see if people agree with my assessment or not and sadly, most people don't seem to notice at all. (Continued…)
Sarah
posted 11/26/08 @ 2:49 PM EST
How did the prayer scene not "establish his presence." It was one of the best scenes of the show...
I think, agreeing with an earlier comment, you were too stuck on the stereotypical bigoted reverend. (Continued…)
Juror # 6
posted 12/01/08 @ 12:16 AM EST
What about us? The Jurors did a great job!
Ashley
posted 12/07/08 @ 7:06 PM EST
A well-deserved review, for a well-done show.
I was thoroughly impressed by each and every performance in this great, important production. It was among the top plays that I have seen at Brandeis without a doubt. (Continued…)
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