THE
ORIGINALIST by Carol Kaufman Segal
Supreme
Court Justice Antonin Scalia was an Associate of the United States Supreme
court for thirty years. Appointed to the
Court by Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1986, he was obviously appointed
as a conservative force on the Supreme Court.
I wonder if anyone knew how strong and stubborn he would hold to his
ideas as an originalist throughout those years.
Playwright
John Strand’s play about Scalia, entitled The
Originalist, playing at the Pasadena Playhouse, is a fictionalized story
that pits him against a young liberal woman who, despite their differences,
they end up as friends.
The
play opens with Scalia, (masterly performed by Edward Gero) with operatic music
in the background and he talks about how much he loves opera music. Then we find him on stage where he is holding
forth a talk to a law school class and being interrupted repeatedly by a young
woman in the audience as she challenges some of his remarks.
The
next scene opens in Judge Scalia’s chambers where the same young woman arrives
introducing herself as Cat (Jade Wheeler) while letting him know that she is a
highly qualified Harvard Law School graduate looking for a job as his law
clerk. Knowing that Cat is a liberal, it
seems surprising that he hires her for the job, but he does, thereby setting up
the fictional tale between an exceptionally strong conservative Judge of the
United States Supreme Court and a young equally liberal law clerk.
Then
the battle ensues. Judge Scalia believes
that anything before the court should hold fast to the Constitution despite the
fact that it was ratified over two centuries ago (philosophy of
originalism). Most people feel that the
Court should allow for changes as society changes. Otherwise, we would be held to some very
repugnant laws that, fortunately have been changed, such as racial and gender
equality. According to Judge Scalia’s
interpretation, any laws that do not adhere strictly to the original intent by the
founders, would be proclaimed unconstitutional.
Scalia
s a pure conservative and while he debates his side with Cat, she has answers
for him through her legal research. But
as time passes, Cat does not see him as a man without feeling, and before long,
they become friends
Though
admittedly, this could never happen, Playwright Strand, in his note to the
audience, gives his reason for writing this play. To quote him, he wrote. “What happened to the
political middle? How did compromise
become a dirty word in American politics?
Civil discourse has been replaced by a verbal foodfight. Why?”
Directed
by Molly Smith, the pay is extremely well presented. I felt something significant and pleasing by
the playing of opera music between each of the scenes. Edward Gero is the perfect actor to play
Judge Scalia. His resemblance of the man
s amazing. Jade Wheeler is delightful as
Cat. Also included in the cast is Brett
Mack who plays a small role, but helps to bond the Judge and Cat.
The Originalist is playing at the
Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molina, in Pasadena, Ave., Pasadena, CA. Performances are Tuesdays through Fridays at 8
PM, Saturdays at 4 PM & 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, through May 7th,
with one Sunday evening performance at 7 PM on April 30.
RECOMMENDED
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