Clarence Darrow

This is a review of the one-man play “Clarence Darrow” by David W. Rintels. The play is based on Irving Stone’s “Clarence Darrow for the Defense.” David W. Rintels won the 1974 Drama Desk Award for outstanding new playwright for this play. He received Morgan Cox Award from Writers Guild of America, west. He has done scripts for TV series, “The Defenders,” “The Senator,” and “The Young Lawyers.” There have been movies and plays based on Darrow’s life, such as "Monkey in the Middle", “Inherit the Wind”, etc.

The play is base on a truly paradoxical, sophisticated, hedonistic, defender of the poor and downtrodden, honest, and country lawyer named Clarence Seward Darrow (born April 18, 1857, died March 13, 1938). He was the son of the village undertaker and coffin maker. He feared death, which may have lead to his lifelong crusade against capital punishment. No client of his was ever executed during his six decade long career.

As this was a one-man play, the only character, played by Dr. William Gourd, directed him self. He is seventy years old, and has been in theatre since the age of fourteen. In 1978, he started building the Department of Communication and Theatre at SVSU, and retired from that department in 1999. The production took place at the Creative Spirit Arts Center in Midland, Michigan. The scenographer, Dr. Steven Erickson, picked up any of the directorial slacks.

I saw two rehearsals and two performances of the play. This has lead to a unique understanding of the creative process, and awareness of the dramatic evolution of Dr. Gourd’s performance. This review is of the first full dress rehearsal attended by the SVSU students. The play was not polished enough, and some of the comical timings were off. The scenery was excellent, provided the space, and Dr. Gourd’s passionate expression made Darrow more alive.

The two act play encompassed Darrow’s legal profession from 1878 to 1953. We learned a little about his personal life but stuck mostly to his thoughts on and events of his career. The play included most of his major cases, and his prospective on the situation. It gave hints of his personality and family life, but stuck predominantly to his work ethics and moral values.

The stage area was small and scenery seemed a little cramped.