Inherit Evolves Into Opening Night
Inherit Evolves Into Opening NightEleven years have passed since the first and only Broadway revival of Inherit The Wind blew through the Great White Way with only 45 performances. Tony Randall's National Actors Theatre produced the play that headlined the late great George C. Scott alongside Charles Durning.
Since debate over creation vs. evolution rages on, it seems entirely apropos that acclaimed director Doug Hughes would now choose to offer a fresh look at the Jerome Lawrence/Robert E. Lee courtroom drama. Inherit The Wind opens tonight at Rialto's Lyceum Theatre.
Based in part on the Scopes Monkey Trial that pitted Clarence Darrow against William Jennings Bryan, Inherit The Wind first appeared on Broadway back in 1955 and lasted a breathtaking 806 performances stretching more than two years. Paul Muni and Ed Begley each won Tony Awards for their performances while a young Tony Randall was featured in the cast.
Today's Inherit The Wind includes arguably one of the best pedigreed (or perhaps most evolved?) casts this theatre season: Brian Dennehy, Christopher Plummer, Byron Jennings and Denis O'Hare, among others.
Will critics take to this Wind? We'll find out very soon.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.
Related Stories:
Is It Just Me, Or...(Part II) (February 21, 2007)
Labels: Brian Dennehy, Broadway, Christopher Plummer, Denis O'Hare, Inherit The Wind, Opening Night, Play, Revival
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Thursday, April 12, 2007
4 Comments:
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I've done the statistics here and there's no way this doesn't win at least one Tony award :-)
Dennehy is a genious. Did you see him in Death of a Salesman? That is still one of the best things I've ever seen on stage.
Corey
Corey,
Personally, I was mesmerized by Dennehy in Long Day's Journey Into Night, and he scored a very well-deserved Tony for that. Subsequently, I've also seen him in Trumbo, and while it was not as uniformly excellent as the Eugene O'Neill revival, it still showcased this exceptional actor wonderfully. (Alas, I never saw him in Death Of A Salesman).
Would love to hear more about how you've run the statistics on Inherit The Wind. I'm intrigued, especially considering all the other revivals out there including Journey's End (which may be doing poorly at the box office, but scored some of the best reviews of the season for a revival) and newer fare like The Coast Of Utopia whose actors will be in the same categories as Inherit The Wind.
E, Even though you weren't commenting on Inherit The Wind, I'll let your comments stand on a show I expect to see sometime in May.
Please note that I've edited your comments ever so slightly since I do have some established ground rules on language stated here and again here.
Here's E's comments:
Ohmygod...you guys!
This comment has NOTHING to do with "Inherit the Wind," but I just HAD to tell you:
I saw "Legally Blonde" on Broadway this weekend, and it is absolutely brilliant. I do not remember the last time I had that much fun at a musical. Wait, yes I do...it was "Hairspray."
Get thee to NYC before it goes the way of "Wicked" and becomes impossible to see.
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