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Edited and Published by Robert W. McDowell

April 20, 2023 Issue
PART 8 (April 17, 2022)

A FREE Weekly E-mail Newsletter Covering Theater, Dance, Music, and Film in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill/Carrboro Area of North Carolina Since April 2001.

PART 8A: TRIANGLE THEATER REVIEW BY MELANIE SIMMONS

Provocative, Challenging, Clever, and Heartfelt, Theatre
in the Park's Inherit the Wind Is Not to Be Missed


Randy Jordan (center) stars as Matthew Harrison Brady in Inherit The Wind at TIP (photo by Catherine Davis Photography)

Inherit the Wind at Theatre in the Park is a rousing courtroom drama, guaranteed to engage and challenge audiences -- and it may just restore a bit of their faith in humanity. This classic 1955 play and 1960 film, written for the stage by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee and based on the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial, is a stirring work that continues to prove itself fresh and relevant. Under the astute hand of director Ira David Wood III, Raleigh audiences get a chance to sit in on the action and explore the depths of their own convictions.>/font>

This two-hour drama centers on a big to-do in smalltown America in the 1920's. When a Tennessee schoolteacher dares to discuss the Theory of Evolution in his Bible-Belt classroom, all hell breaks loose. The teacher if forced to stand trial for breaking local laws that limit education to that which is biblical, and the matter catches the attention of the outside world. The idea of science and religion squaring off in the courtroom proves to be an irresistible lure; and before long, the fictional small town of Hillsboro in an unnamed state, is abuzz with more drama than it knows how to handle.>/font>

Greatly anticipated is the arrival of Matthew Harrison Brady, a titan in religious circles, who has made it his personal mission to defend The Faith no matter the cost. Randy Jordan plays Brady with the florid sangfroid of a man convinced his authority comes from above, and who is used to being surrounded by people who agree with that presumption.>/font>

Indeed, the townsfolk nearly do themselves an injury welcoming Brady and his wife (played with attentive charm by Rainee Denham). Almost lost in the hubbub is the arrival of the defense attorney Henry Drummond, played by a staunch Peter Battis, who not only brings depth to the role, but also -- by the final scene -- a surprising amount of compassion.>/font>


Inherit The Wind stars Peter Battis (right) as Henry Drummond and Ira Wood as E.K Hornbeck (photo by Catherine Davis Photography)

The third interloper to this small town is E.K. Hornbeck (played by Ira David Wood IV), an acerbic and keen journalist who is there to cover the court case of the century. Wood strides onto the stage with a cool smirk, a penetrating eye, and a crisp city accent that immediately sets him at odds with the townsfolk. Hornbeck is a passionate observer, with a talent for saying all the things that are difficult to hear and as such, provides a piercing insight to the unfolding events.>/font>

With all these incendiary elements in place, it's no wonder the town erupts into a veritable circus of conflict. The Judge (played by Dr. Bob Harris) finds himself in the middle of a moral morass, with faith and logic stirring up emotions among everyone on or off the bench. As cast members are cleverly staged amidst the theater seating and encouraged to break the Fourth Wall, the audience is quickly integrated into the story and carried along for the ride. And what a ride it is; with everything from quiet, deadly lines of questioning by the lawyers to frank and simplistic witness testimonies to raucous prayer meetings led by Rev. Jeremiah Brown (played with rousing aplomb by Jim O'Brien), it's easy to get caught up in the drama.>/font>

That's not to say the play doesn't have heart. Bertram Cates, the schoolteacher on trial, and Rachel Brown, the local preacher's daughter -- played by real-life married couple James Miller and Brooke Langley Miller -- have a tortured relationship at the center of the controversy. Their careers and their hearts are on trial as much as anything else, and their moving interactions help remind the audience that there are real-world consequences to the lofty concepts being debated in court.>/font>


James Miller and Brooke Miller star as Bertram Cates and Rachel Brown in Theatre in the Park's
April 13-16 and 20-23 production of Inherit The Wind (photo by Catherine Davis Photography)

The cast as a whole is strong and engaging, not easy to do with such a large ensemble and the weight of the topics covered. Here is where Ira David Wood III's adroit direction plays out beautifully, encouraging each actor to bring their own flavor to their roles in a way that exceeds and enhances the already deft script. Ad-libbed interjections and court reactions are key to the immersive experience that sets this apart from other productions.>/font>

The costuming designed by Allison Iliffe is evocative of the era yet timeless enough to feel present. Simple yet effective stage design together with lighting designer Cory Arnold's bright summer washes help create an environment as electric as the calm before a storm. Audience members might find themselves fanning away imaginary summer heat along with the cast without even realizing it.>/font>

How well the court case unfolds, and ultimately resolves, depends somewhat on the personal views of each individual. Regardless of where one falls on the religion-science spectrum, the play does a remarkable job of giving fair voice to both sides of the issue. Because at the end of the day, the story comes down to people: the power of individual thought, the complexities that make up the human condition, and defending the freedom to embrace the truth that resonates in each person's heart. Challenging, provocative, clever and heartfelt, this is a show worthy of experiencing and not to be missed.>/font>


The cast and crew of Inherit The Wind at Theatre in the Park pose for a group portrait (photo by Catherine Davis Photography)

Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee's INHERIT THE WIND (In Person at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20-23), directed by Ira David Wood III and starring Peter Battis as Henry Drummond, Jim O'Brien as the Rev. Jeremiah Brown Dr. Bob Harris as The Judge, Randy Jordan as Matthew Harrison Brady, Brooke Langley Miller as Rachel Brown, James Miller as Bertram Cates, Ira David Wood IV as E.K. Hornbeck, Robert Richardson as Meeker, Rainee Denham as Mrs. Brady, Lawson Walker as Howard Blair, Margo Schuler as Mrs. Krebs, Sam Schuster as Tommy Stebbins, Danny Norris as Mr. Bannister, Archil Megrelishvill as Elijah, Chris Myles as the Mayor, Greg Fusare as Tom Davenport, Paul Jason Baker-Nicholas as Harry Y. Esterbrook, Phillip Solano as Jesse H. Dunlap, Henry Young as Sillers, Kai Petra Halford as Melinda Loomis, Mike Rumble as Mr. Goodfellow/Storekeeper/Hawker, and Rylee Davis as Mrs. Blair (Theatre in the Park in the Ira David Wood III Pullen Park Theatre in Raleigh). THE PRESENTER/VENUE: https://www.theatreinthepark.com/, https://www.facebook.com/theatreintheparkraleigh, https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/10561032/theatre-in-the-park/, https://twitter.com/TheatreInPark, and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6csRm6S7ViHeBuRSlV_fqg. 2023 SEASON: https://www.theatreinthepark.com/whats-on/season-2023.html. DIRECTIONS: https://www.theatreinthepark.com/visit/how-to-find-us.html. PARKING: https://www.theatreinthepark.com/visit/parking.html. COVID REQUIREMENTS (scroll down): https://www.theatreinthepark.com/welcome.html. INHERIT THE WIND (1955 Dallas and 1955 Broadway Play): https://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=1689, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/inherit-the-wind-4722, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inherit_the_Wind_(play). THE SCRIPT: https://kb.osu.edu/handle/1811/24646. STUDY GUIDE (Utah Shakespeare Festival): https://www.bard.org/study-guides/fiddler-on-the-roof-study-guide/. TICKETS: $20-$25, plus taxes and fees, except $20.38 per person for groups of 10 or more. Click here to buy tickets. GROUP SALES (10+ tickets): Call 919-831-6058 or click here. INFORMATION: 919-831-6058 or info@theatreinthepark.com. PLEASE DONATE TO: Theatre in the Park.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Melanie Simmons of Cary, NC is a film and stage actress with a BA degree in Theatre from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA. She has studied acting with Sande Shurin Acting Studios in New York City and The Actor's Workshop in Los Angeles, CA; and she now trains locally with Lynda Clark (stage), Daryl Ray Carlisle (film/commercial), and Rebekah Holland (voice). Simmons has performed at Raleigh Little Theatre in Raleigh, Forest Moon Theater in Wake Forest, Stageworks Theatre in Holly Springs, and many others. She is represented by Talent One Agency in Raleigh. Click here to read her reviews for Triangle Review.

 


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