Inherit the Wind at the Segal Centre

This thrilling courtroom drama was inspired by the famous ‘Scopes Monkey Trial’ of 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee where schoolteacher John Scopes was accused of violating a state law against teaching the theory of human evolution. “Lawrence and Lee wrote Inherit the Wind during the 1950s when Senator McCarthy was on the scene in the United States,” said Bryna Wasserman, Artistic and Executive Director of the Segal Centre. “The play is a metaphor for the importance of intellectual freedom and the dangers of restricting free speech “Our production will make a lasting impression on theatergoers”, adds Wasserman. “Director Greg Kramer’s brilliant choice of actors adds a unique dimension and depth to the play and Elli Bunton’s imaginative set strives to bring the audience into the action of the play”.

Costumes are by Susana Vera and lighting is by Robert Thomson. John Gilbert is the musical director.

The play stars Sean McCann (defence lawyer Henry Drummond) and David Francis (prosecutor Matthew Harrison Brady). McCann is one of Canada's most esteemed character actors and has been presented with or nominated for almost every major Canadian award in film, TV and theatre. Francis works equally in English and French in film, television, radio and theatre and has won Critics Choice Awards for both Sleuth and Passion Play at the Segal Centre.

In keeping with the Segal Centre’s objective to enhance the theatregoing experience, Pulitzer Prize recipient Edward Larson lectured at Sunday @ the Segal on October 18.

Professor Larson won the Pulitzer Prize for history for his book, Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion.

Larson is a professor at the Pepperdine University School of Law. He has addressed Inherit the Wind audiences in the United States, including Tony Randall’s National Actors Theatre production on Broadway, and on the Showtime television version of the play with George C. Scott and Jack Lemmon. More recently, Larson’s work was featured in the playbill for the 2007 Broadway revival of Inherit the Wind with Christopher Plummer and Brian Dennehy. Dennehy used Larson’s book to prepare for his character.

Several scholars, scientists and theologians attended Professor Larson’s lecture at the Segal Centre, including renowned ethicist Margaret Somerville. Somerville is the Founding Director of the Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law at McGill University.

This year marks the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of his work, On the Origin of Species. The debate between Darwin’s theory of evolution and creationism is as relevant today as it was in 1925.