A few people have asked me to write a review of Barker’s Year 11 play, “Inherit the Wind”, because they themselves couldn’t get to the play. Having seen it yesterday night, it’s fine.
Note that the powers that be have forbidden me to use people’s names, so I’ll write about it in context.
“He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.” – Proverbs 11:29 (King James Version)
This is a play is based on the Scopes Trial in Tennessee in the 1920s. The Scopes Trial was a rather famous case, testing the Act that prohibits the teaching of creationism, i.e. from Charles Darwin’s book ‘The Origin of Species’. Although the characters and accounts are fictionalised, it does stay true to the core ideas of that case.
The play started off rather quietly. I could sense that the audience was watching closely with intent. As we watched the case unfold, with every piece of evidence presented to the audience, the intensity in the courtroom built up. You could see it becoming a landmark case. Add in the zany journalists from Baltimore and the UK, and suddenly there’s another set of opinions to think about.
While the dialogue was concentrated on a few characters, the acting was well done. Another point to note was the minimal staging and props, mainly chairs, desks and picket signs. Also, flawless American accents.
Overall, another fantastic production. Nothing else needs to be said.
