Ed Asner, John Heard in The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial
at the Jewish Community Center
By Bruce Bellingham


Veteran stage and screen actors Ed Asner and John Heard will appear as principal characters in the dramatization of the 1925 Scopes trial, The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial, written by Peter Goodchild, at the JCC on Jan. 22. The play is based on trial transcripts. Carolyn Seymour narrates it.
The production is part of Evolve 2009 – a San Francisco citywide observance of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his On the Origin of Species, the bible, if you will, of evolution.

It’s not clear if Sarah Palin will request equal time.

If you recall, John Scopes was a Tennessee high school science teacher who resisted a state law that banned the teaching of evolution in the classrooms. A trial ensued, Tennessee v. John Scopes. Soon dubbed The Monkey Trial by the press, the event garnered national attention and was covered by the top journalists of the day, including H. L. Mencken. The sweltering courtroom that summer became a battleground between the forces of evolution and creationism, and a clash between two legal titans: Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan. It appears that battle remains unresolved to this day.

Ed Asner appears as William Jennings Bryan, Arye Gross as Arthur Garfield Hayes, Jerry Hardin as Judge John Raulston, and James Gleason in the role of H. L. Mencken. John Heard has the juicy role of Clarence Darrow. Others in the cast include Matthew Patrick Davis, Matt Gaydos, Rob Nagle, and Geoffrey Wade.

By the way, did you know that Ed Asner is Gavin Newsom’s uncle? Honest. If I’m wrong about that, well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. I spoke to actor Malachy McCourt the other day. He mentioned that he’s preparing a one-man show based on the life and times of H. L. Mencken. I thought I’d mention that, too. Malachy, of the famous McCourt clan, lives in New York, but his kid brother, Michael, can be found pouring drinks at LaRocca’s Corner on Columbus in North Beach Monday through Wednesday afternoons. Both Malachy and older brother Frank (he wrote Angela’s Ashes) agree that Michael is the best storyteller in the family – so go find out. Michael could probably tell you something about creationism. 

Oh yes, creationism. I got too creative for a moment. Back to the topic.

The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial:  Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St. (at Presidio); Thursday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m.; tickets $30–$50; 415-292-1233, www.jccsf.org/arts.