Inherit the Wind, the Cleveland Play House’s second offering for its 2009-2010 Season, opened Friday, October 23 in the Drury Theatre.

Inherit the Wind is based upon the real-life court case, The Scopes Monkey Trial (Dayton, Tennessee), which challenged the teaching of evolution in the public schools. Written by Ohio playwrights Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, Inherit the Wind is one of more than 30 major productions by this celebrated team . . . procutions that have included The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, First Monday in October (which premiered at the Play House in 1975) and the more famous Auntie Mame. Lawrence was born in Cleveland and Lee in Elyria, bringing a great sense of state and local pride to this production.

The play begins as Bertram Cates awaits trial for the teaching of evolution. The devoutly religious citizens of Hillsboro do not believe in the theories set forth by Charles Darwin in his famous On the Origin of Species (1859, revised 1869), and they rally behind their hero, Matthew Harrison Brady, lawyer for the prosecution. Meanwhile, Henry Drummond arrives from Chicago to serve as counsel for the defense. As the trial begins, the never-ending debate between science and Christianity unfolds with a satisfying conclusion. As this year marks the 150th anniversary of Darwin’s groundbreaking work, it is very fitting that the Play House chose this great play for its 2009-2010 Season.

The play is well acted and has a larger cast than many of the Play House’s productions with 18 actors and an additional 10 extras on stage. Among the performers, are seasoned Broadway actors, local talent and students of the CWRU/Cleveland Play House MFA Acting Program. (It is always a treat to see these very talented students perform in anything they do.) The play is directed by Seth Gordon, Associate Artistic Director for the Cleveland Play House.

I have never seen a bad production at the Cleveland Play House, and yet, I can say that this performance ranks among the very best that I have seen. Inherit the Wind is very entertaining and totally engaging. But more importantly, it raises legitimate questions and showcases never-ending issues that are still relevant today. Inherit the Wind runs through November 15. Then, the Cleveland Play House’s 94th Season continues with the fifth and final year of A Christmas Story. Adapted from the 1983 holiday classic which was filmed in Cleveland, A Christmas Story is sure to delight both young and old this holiday season. The play runs November 27 through December 20 in the Play House’s Bolton Theatre. Tickets are selling fast, so be sure to secure your seats. The Cleveland Play House is located at East 85th Street and Euclid Avenue on the east side of Cleveland. For more information: www.ClevelandPlayHouse.com. –Submitted by guest blogger, Christopher S. Musselman