Inherit the Wind

Sally Stinnett

For the fall play the El Segundo High School drama class put on the contemporary classic play, Inherit the Wind. Staged in the deep southern city of Hillsboro in 1920 the play was centered around the conflict of creationism versus the theory of evolution. The play was based on the famous Scopes monkey trial of 1925. Scopes was on trial for teaching Darwinism to a high school biology class, at this time it was illegal to teach the theory of our existence based on anything except the Bible.

The play itself was based around the conflict between the prosecuting and defense attorney. The prosecution, Colonel Brady (seniors Cayt’lan Wayt and Ben Shea), a Bible beating ex presidential candidate comes to the small town of Hillsboro to testify for all that is good and holy by making sure that the defendant Bertram Cates (senior Mychael Castillo and junior Chris Chavez) is given the harshest punishment possible. Playing beside Brady was the circuit district attorney Davenport (James Alexander Nelson IV and sophomore Sally Stinnett). The defense attorney, Drummond (seniors Matt Miltenburger and Elizabeth Burgecia) is an agnostic modern day thinker who tries to defend the individuals right to think freely. There was a time when Brady and Drummond were partners in one of Brady’s presidential campaigns and since the breaking of their friendship there has been animosity towards one another. The play is full of alliterations and critical philosophical points, many of which are made by a snide reporter from Baltimore, E.K. Hornbeck, played by juniors Randyll Wendl and Bianca Furguson.

This production was indeed a challenge for the drama class to put on. Mrs. Hedayat had to work with seventy-three students, all vying for a speaking role. As a solution there were two casts on rotating nights, each with a completely different lineup of actors. With interpretation of each character changing every night, you really had to see it twice. The majority of drama students were cast as townspeople and were very enthusiastic in their portrayal of a deeply religious Southern Baptist community. Throughout the play one could see people running around with their Bibles, shouting their beliefs, and singing gospel hymns. In a prayer meeting scene there was an organized choral arrangement of the song “Guiding Light” in which senior Vinceza Cuffaro sang a solo while the Reverend Brown (sophomore Kevin Rapoza and freshman Britney Smith) gave a sermon on creation.

After much work and dedication to organize such a dramatic play with so many people, the drama class was able to pull it off with the help of several dedicated students, the woodshop and art classes, and the Key Club sold snacks and grams. In the end it was quite a show and we eagerly await the opening of this years spring musical, Gypsy.