In pursuit of justice

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Civil liberties at risk, labor unions under fire from big business, the teaching of evolution versus creationism hotly contested in courts and communities. Some things never change, and America’s “most famous defense lawyer,” Clarence Darrow, would have just as much work today as he did in the early part of the 20th century.

The life and legendary career of the tireless crusader is depicted in “Darrow,” a one-man show coming to the Admiral Theatre Jan. 19, with actor Tobias Andersen portraying Darrow. The show is the first installment of the theater’s First Person Series for the season.

Darrow, who died in 1938, was one of those larger than life characters who became known as “America’s conscience,” taking on defense cases whenever he felt personal liberty and freedom were at issue.

His high profile cases include the defense of socialist labor leaders Debs and Big Bill Haywood, teenage “Thrill Kill” defendants Leopold and Loeb, railroad workers and miners fighting for the right to strike, and conscientious objectors on trial for their opinions, not their deeds.

Vehemently opposed to capital punishment, Darrow defended 104 clients facing the death penalty and all escaped it.

But his most famous case, and a subject that’s still in the news today, was the defense of the teaching of evolution in the “State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes” trial of 1925, better known as the “Scopes Monkey Trial.”

A young high school biology teacher, John Scopes, agreed to be the defendant in the case in order to bring to court the issue of teaching evolution in public schools. At the time, Tennessee was one of 15 states with legislation pending to ban it.

The case was ultimately dismissed by the Tennessee Supreme Court, who ruled that “nothing can be gained by prolonging the life of this bizarre case.”

Through Andersen’s portrayal, modern-day audiences have the opportunity to hear the historical figure reflect on his life and career.

Andersen has presented his critically-acclaimed portrayal of the historical figure at shows across the United States, including extended runs in Ventura, Calif., Portland, Ore. and Seattle.

In 1997, “Darrow” was selected by the U.S. Information Agency to represent the United States at the Second International Drama Festival in Pakistan, where it was performed before audiences in Karachi and Lahore and before members of the Pakistani government and supreme court in Islamabad.

Andersen is a veteran actor with extensive stage and screen experience.

He has been a resident artist with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, California Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Repertory and Playmaker’s Repertory of Chapel Hill.

A Portland, Ore. resident, Andersen has been a frequent performer with the Oregon Symphony’s “Nerve Endings” concerts, appearing as Josef Stalin, Sigmund Freud and Beethoven.

His TV appearances include “Little House on the Prairie,” “Newhart” and “Bonanza.” His most recent network appearance was as Chicago Sun-Times editor Dean Evans in the Ann Landers bio film, “Take My Advice.”

Andersen is currently Artistic Director of the Mt. Hood Repertory Theatre Company, where he also directs and acts in productions.

In 2002, he starred as defense attorney Drummond in the theater’s production of “Inherit the Wind,” a 1950 play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee which uses the Scopes Trial to address the threat to intellectual freedom stemming from the anti-communist hysteria of the McCarthy era.

“Darrow” is presented at 7 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Admiral Theatre, 515 Pacific Ave., Bremerton.

Tickets are $15 general admission, available at the box office 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and by phone at (360) 373-6743. Season passes for all four shows in the series are available for $45.

Other shows in the series are “An Evening with Groucho,” Feb. 23; “Cecil B. DeMille,” March 23 and “Isadora Duncan,” May 25. For more information visit www.admiraltheatre.org. wu