THEATRE REVIEW

Absorbing ‘Inherit the Wind’ at OSTC

By Don Fowler
Posted 4/7/17

If you like thought-provoking, absorbing theatre, then Ocean State Theatre Company’s production of “Inherit the Wind” is the play you should see.

Director Fred Sullivan Jr., a mainstay at …

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THEATRE REVIEW

Absorbing ‘Inherit the Wind’ at OSTC

Posted

If you like thought-provoking, absorbing theatre, then Ocean State Theatre Company’s production of “Inherit the Wind” is the play you should see.

Director Fred Sullivan Jr., a mainstay at both Trinity Rep and Gamm theatres, has assembled a powerhouse cast of mostly Rhode Island-based actors, demonstrating the depth of talent right in our back yard.

Leading the cast of 21 is Tom Gleadow, an actor who has been showing us his talents on the Rhode Island stage, from Trinity to Theatre-by-the-Sea to Gamm, for over 25 years. Gleadow plays Chicago lawyer Henry Drummond with a passion that makes you want to stand up and cheer him on. He can be quietly compassionate, glib and as explosive as a volcano with his defense of evolution-teacher, Bertram Cates (Mark Dante Mancini).

You know the story. Drummond takes on his old friend and adversary, Col. Brady (Brandon Whitehead) to defend Cates against breaking the law for teaching evolutionism. The small town folk are mostly Bible-thumping folks who believe in the literal translation of the book. The preacher’s daughter is in love with the teacher, but torn between father and fiancée. It all makes for a tense, two-act, tightly directed play.

Sullivan has added a bit of music between scenes, beginning with the most appropriate “Gimme That Old-Time Religion” and including some good four-part harmony.

Eric Diaz’s latticework set provides a perfect backdrop for the few scene changes, and Elisabetta Polito’s costumes are right on.

This is the first time that OSTC has used an almost completely Rhode Island cast, with actors from Trinity, Gamm, Theatre-by-the-Sea, 2nd Story, Community Players, Epic, Wilbury, and Burbage. Add Frank O’Donnell, a member of the RI Comedy Hall of Fame, and you have quite a plethora of RI talent.

“Inherit the Wind” is at Ocean State Theatre Company in Warwick through April 16. Call 921-6800 for reservations.

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