Creation
versus evolution
One
of the great courtroom battles of the twentieth century was the famous
Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925, in which a schoolteacher faced the full
rigours of American law for daring to teach the Darwin theory of evolution
in the classroom. The two main protagonists in the courtroom were Clarence
Darrow and William Jennings Bryan and this clash of legal heavyweights
changed educational policy not only in America but across the globe.
For sheer true life drama, the battle between the two men was hard to
beat and it is no surprise that their encounter has been portrayed in
a number of films, most notably starring Spencer Tracey and Frederick
March. And so it is little wonder that Classic Revival, the Irish theatre
company dedicated to performing old films seldom seen on stage, have
decided to bring “Inherit the wind” to Draíocht for
a week in May.
“I read a lot of scripts and this one really picked me up and
grabbed me,” says director and Classic Revival co-founder Pegeen
Coleman. “It really is such an absorbing tale with all the legal
arguments and plenty of little incidental titbits. Clarence Darrow,
for example, was the lawyer who successful defended the two Chicago
youths who committed the motiveless murder portrayed in Hitchcock’s
“Rope.”
“I really enjoyed researching this play, even though there was
an awful lot of it!!”
Having played Buttons in the Morning Star Theatre when she was nine
years old, Pegeen became hooked on theatre, a love that has not wavered
throughout her lifetime. She played in many musicals where the acting
was more important than the singing and where singing was more important
she did prompting, props, and costumes, before finding her one great
love in directing. Having recently retired from gainful employment in
the legal world she is delightedly giving most of her time these days
to theatrical pursuits, though she admits “Inherit the Wind”
is perhaps not the easiest play she could have chosen.
“We have a cast of just under thirty,” she says. “Sometimes
I ask why I put myself under so much pressure! And most of them are
men, though having said that, they are a joy to work with. Over my time
in the theatre, I have got to know a large amount of actors and it was
simply a case of picking up the phone and asking them.
“My two leading men are Val O’Donnell and Louis O’Byrne,
both retired but great, great actors.”
Pegeen herself is from the Navan Road area and certainly the company
is no stranger to Draíocht, with past performances at the venue
including the farce “Noises Off” (2007), “The Caine
Mutiny Court Martial” (2006), Helene Hanff’s “84 Charing
Cross Road” (2005), “My Three Angels” (2004) and “Steel
Magnolias” in 2003.
Aside from her work with Classic Revival, Pegeen has also worked with
our very own Coolmine Musical Society on several occasions, the last
time being in the musical “South Pacific” three years ago.
“It’s a lovely theatre at Draíocht,” she says,
“and what’s more, there is free parking too!”
“Inherit the Wind” by Classic Revival plays Draíocht
Studio nightly from Tuesday 13th to Saturday 17th May at 8.15pm.
Tickets are €16 / €14.
Community Voice, Media
House, Church Avenue, Blanchardstown,
Dublin 15
Phone +353 1 822 1432 - Fax +353 1 640 4444
info@communityvoice.ie
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