Viewers will go ape over Ohio State’s theatrical production “Inherit the Wind.”
Based on the 1925 Scopes-Monkey trial, “Inherit the Wind” is a fictional account of a public school teacher put on trial for teaching evolutionary theory.
The production, which was cast disregarding gender or ethnicity, de-emphasized physical characteristics of the actors and instead focused on their abilities to successfully convey powerful emotions. This decision by the casting director did not affect the way the characters in the play were perceived but instead highlighted the individual talents of each cast member.
An example of this unique casting method is Dominique Paramore, a black female, who plays Matthew Harrison Brady, an obnoxiously vocal white-male prosecutor with an entire town on his side. Paramore masterly played this role as she bellowed speeches and strutted around the stage unrestrained by her character’s super-sized ego. Paramore’s attitude was so energetic and comical that audience members could easily overlook the irony of having a young black female portray an aging Bible thumper.
Henry Drummond, the opposing attorney in the trial, was played by Wade Corder. Corder’s performance was the most believable in the play. Corder’s disapproval of the small-town folk who blindly follow Brady was evident through his cynical remarks and urgent body language.
Director Alan Woods, associate professor of theater, utilized the entire theater well. He seated the jury of the trial in the audience thereby making the audience members of the jury. Also, Woods has the townspeople move off stage and leave the theater through the side exits.
Although viewers do not know when the trial takes place, modern elements are strung throughout the play and relate to present day. For instance, townspeople awaiting the arrival of Brady held signs emblazoned with “W.W.J.D.”
G. Clark Finfrock plays E.K. Hornbeck, a city journalist covering the trial. He captured the town’s turmoil when he tempted the minister’s daughter, played by Betsy Wilson, with an apple. Like the serpent that tempted Eve, Finfrock metaphorically asked Wilson to join her lover’s side in the pursuit for freedom of speech.
Most interesting in the play was a circular screen in the background. Projected on the screen were various cosmic scenes that hint at far away galaxies.
“Inherit the Wind” will play through May 21 at Thurber Theatre.
