[NEohioPAL]Plain Dealer Rave of CLARENCE DARROW at Actors' Summit

Fri Nov 11 10:41:29 PST 2005

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One man who can  hold court and hold an audience
Friday, November  11, 2005   
"Clarence Darrow," at  Actors' Summit in Hudson, is the most traditional 
one-person show now in Greater  Cleveland. One actor plays one person.  
But playwright David  Rintels' nuanced script excerpts the great defense 
lawyer's brilliant speeches  and also glimpses inside Darrow's thought processes.  
And the big bluff talents  of Neil Thackaberry make you forget that you're in 
a theater, watching a  performer. You find yourself sitting in Darrow's 
study, nodding and chuckling.   
In today's Arts &  Life section, you can read a review of a more complex 
one-man play, the  Cleveland Play House's "I Am My Own Wife," in which a single 
actor fills  multiple parts.  
And elsewhere in today's  Friday magazine, another story tells of two 
actresses who together portray the  singular Janis Joplin in Playhouse Square's 
upcoming "Love, Janis."   
Simple but elegant by  comparison, the 1974 "Clarence Darrow" (based on a 
book by Irving Stone)  concentrates on the lesser-known early career of one of 
democracy's greatest  friends.  
Born in Trumbull County,  Darrow first practiced law in Ashtabula before 
settling in Chicago. There, he  defended union chief Eugene Debs and became a 
leading labor lawyer.   
Later, he fought the  death penalty with the same trademark zeal, saving 
scores of lives.   
Less is heard about the  famous cases: the 1924 Leopold-Loeb murder case in 
Chicago and his brilliant  1925 defense of teaching evolution in Tennessee's 
Scopes "Monkey" Trial.   
Near the end of his  portrayal of a legendary man who has been played 
previously by the likes of  Henry Fonda, Orson Welles and Paul Muni, Thackaberry 
hangs his head slightly,  looks us in the eye and says:  
"Inside every lawyer is  the wreck of poet."  
Here on display for all  to see is the sublime poetry and fascinating 
wreckage of a great lawyer.   
Runs through Sunday, Nov.  20, at 86 Owen Brown St., Hudson. $22 and $25. 
Call 330-342-0800.   
To reach this Plain  Dealer columnist:  
tbrown at plaind.com,  216-999-4181 

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<H1 style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; COLOR: #d20000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">One man who=20=
can=20
hold court and hold an audience<o:p></o:p></H1>
<st1:date Month=3D"11" Da=
y=3D"11"=20
Year=3D"2005">Friday, N=
ovember=20
11, 2005</st1:date>=20
<o:p></o:p>
"Clarence Darrow,"=20=
at=20
Actors' Summit in Hudson, is the most traditional one-person show now in Gre=
ater=20
Cleveland. One actor plays one person. <o:p></o:p>
But playwright Davi=
d=20
Rintels' nuanced script excerpts the great defense lawyer's brilliant speech=
es=20
and also glimpses inside Darrow's thought processes. <o:p></o:p>
And the big bluff t=
alents=20
of Neil Thackaberry make you forget that you're in a theater, watching a=20
performer. You find yourself sitting in Darrow's study, nodding and chucklin=
g.=20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"DISPLAY: none; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-hide: all=
"><o:p> </o:p>
In today's Arts &am=
p;=20
Life section, you can read a review of a more complex one-man play, the=20
Cleveland Play House's "I Am My Own Wife," in which a single actor fills=20
multiple parts. <o:p></o:p>
And elsewhere in to=
day's=20
Friday magazine, another story tells of two actresses who together portray t=
he=20
singular Janis Joplin in Playhouse Square's upcoming "Love, Janis."=20
<o:p></o:p>
Simple but elegant=20=
by=20
comparison, the 1974 "Clarence Darrow" (based on a book by Irving Stone)=20
concentrates on the lesser-known early career of one of democracy's greatest=
=20
friends. <o:p></o:p>
Born in Trumbull Co=
unty,=20
Darrow first practiced law in Ashtabula before settling in Chicago. There, h=
e=20
defended union chief Eugene Debs and became a leading labor lawyer.=20
<o:p></o:p>
Later, he fought th=
e=20
death penalty with the same trademark zeal, saving scores of lives.=20
<o:p></o:p>
Less is heard about=
 the=20
famous cases: the 1924 Leopold-Loeb murder case in Chicago and his brilliant=
=20
1925 defense of teaching evolution in Tennessee's Scopes "Monkey" Trial.=20
<o:p></o:p>
Near the end of his=
=20
portrayal of a legendary man who has been played previously by the likes of=20
Henry Fonda, Orson Welles and Paul Muni, Thackaberry hangs his head slightly=
,=20
looks us in the eye and says: <o:p></o:p>
"Inside every lawye=
r is=20
the wreck of poet." <o:p></o:p>
Here on display for=
 all=20
to see is the sublime poetry and fascinating wreckage of a great lawyer.=20
<o:p></o:p>
Runs through Sunday=
, Nov.=20
20, at 86 Owen Brown St., Hudson. $22 and $25. Call 330-342-0800.=20
<o:p></o:p>
To reach this Plain=
=20
Dealer columnist: <o:p></o:p>
tbrown at plaind.com,=20
216-999-4181 <o:p></o:p></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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