Directors excited about ‘ Inherit the Wind’ rehearsals
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — “Inherit the Wind” directors Lee Iafrate and Melissa Sonnen say rehearsals with the large cast have been “giving them goosebumps.”
The Village Players’ production will be presented on the Woodlands Stage at 7 p. m. March 21 and 22, and at 2 p. m. March 23. Tickets are $ 12 and are now on sale. There is open seating available for all three shows.
“Our cast is doing a tremendous job of getting into character. We have some parts that have extensive dialogue while others have only a few lines, such as the crowd during the courtroom scene, but they are putting their emotions into the scene and creating a powerful performance,” Iafrate said.
“Inherit the Wind” is a courtroom drama that is a parody of the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial. It was made into a motion picture in 1960 and has been performed numerous times on stage over the years. Sonnen describes the show as “outside the box” of a regular comedy or musical performed by the Players, but sees in this stage of rehearsals that the performers are up to the challenge.
“From the intense bantering between lawyers Matthew Harrison Brady and Henry Drummond, to the emotional scene at the Bible meeting led by Rev. Jeremiah Brown, the emotions of the show are really coming out. I have talked to several Village residents who have heard we are doing a courtroom drama, and they are looking forward to it. We won’t disappoint them,” Sonnen said.
The two directors took additional time to fill the cast because of its large size and finding the right actors to match the characters. Some Players members took on dual roles.
The cast for “Inherit the Wind” includes the following: Curtis Larson as Matthew Harrison Brady, Jack Iafrate as Henry Drummond, Patsy Slezak as Mrs. Brady, Elaine Davis as Mrs. Blair, Sissy Trabant as Rachel Brown, Wally Newburn as Rev. Jeremiah Brown, Jeff Smith as Bertram Cates, Ida Ferree as the court reporter, Tom Gallagher as Davenport, Merrill Clark and Jesse H. Dunlap; Bill Fields as Elijah and the radio man Harry Esterbrook, Anais Troadec as the Figaro reporter, Bette Clark as Mrs. Goodfellow, Vern Martin as the hot dog and Eskimo pie salesman, Matthew Pulscher as Howard Blair, Frank Nilson as the judge, Connie Weidert as Mrs. Krebs, Brenda Tirrell as Mrs. Loomis, David Feldpausch as the mayor, Brenda Tirrell as Mrs. McLain, Joe Melsha as Meeker the bailiff, Salem Twiggs and Melinda Loomis, Cloe Bayer as the organ grinder and Dr. Arlene Page, Elaine Altimus as Tammy, Betsy Videan as a townswoman, Nap Videan as Dr. Walter Aaronson and Phil Michaelson as Dr. Amos Keller.
Jurors, including some who have additional speaking parts elsewhere in the play, are Ozzie Ramsey, Loren Loberg, Paul Mefford, John Citron, Dick Gunderson, John Weidert, Bob Green, Howard David, Robert Sonnen, Bill Jervis, Ed Bayer and Herm Dobscha.
“It is going to be a powerful presentation, something the Players haven’t done before. We encourage people to get their tickets today and come see the show,” Iafrate said.