THE CAPE AND THE KLAN  by Carol Kaufman Segal

            The Klu Klux Klan began its first of three movements in the United States in the 1860s.  It thrived in the late 1860s, disintegrating in the 1970s.  The second group was founded in 1915, grew in the early and mid 1920s, but weakened rapidly in the later 1920s.  The third appearance emerged strong again in the 1950s with the rise of the Civil Rights Movement when African-American veterans from World War II began demanding equal rights.

            The Cape and the Klan, a play written by Tin Penavic and Ted Ryan is making its world premiere at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood.  The time is 1951 and Harry (Doug Haverty) is a reporter who goes undercover to infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan.  He has been accepted as a member by Sam (Bix Barnaba) after a great deal of scrutiny.  After some time, Sam becomes suspicious of Harry, leaving him with his life in danger and no way to expose the organization. 

            But then Harry remembers his friend, Bob (Matthew Hoffman), producer of the radio thriller The Adventures of Superman, which has recently been losing its audience due to lack of interest in its recent series.  He explains his dilemma to Bob, but offers him an idea for a plot to save himself, as well as the radio production, in which Superman exposes the Klu Klux Klan. 

            Bob, in turn, along with Harry, brings the idea to those involved in the production, Station Manager Dan (Timothy Roscoe), and radio players Smitty (Bruce Nehlen), Joe (Scott Seiffert), Ben (Michael James Thatcher), and Lana (Kristen Towers-Rowles).  They all have been racking their brains trying to come up with a thrilling show that would bring back their audiences.  They all agree to accept the challenge, the script is written, it is performed over the national airwaves, and      once again, Superman’s ratings go sky high, the Klu Klux Klan is exposed, and Harry’s job is saved.

            The playwrights said, “The events depicted are based on true events and the work of Stetson Kennedy who did, in fact, infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan.  By bringing it to New York, the story became a seventeen part episode, The Clan of the fiery Cross.”  However, the characters in the play are not the actual people involved in the true story.

            Stan Mazin directs a brilliant cast that also includes Veronica (Natalia Santamaria), Harry’s wife, and Rita Walker (Shalonda Shaw-Reese) whose small, but crucial, role is especially emotional.

            The Cape and the Klan plays Saturday at 2 PM, and Sundays at 7 PM, through March 18, Upstairs at the Group Rep in the Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood.  Tickets are available online at www.thegrouprep.com, or by calling (818) 763-5990.

   

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