Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – DC-favorite Edward Gero is undeniably magnificent as THE ORIGINALIST, the polarizing Justice Scalia

• By drediman
• July 30, 2018
• No Comments

Tracy Ifeachor and Edward Gero in John Strand’s “The Originalist” at 59E59 Theaters. Photo by Joan Marcus.

One of the biggest hits Arena Stage – a powerhouse regional theater located in Washington, DC – has had in recent years was its premiere production of The Originalist, John Strand’s well-balanced portrayal of late-career Justice Antonin Scalia. There was positive word of mouth surrounding the play, as well as the performance of actor Edward Gero, a DC-favorite, who portrayed the polarizing justice. It’s this production, directed by Arena Stage artistic director Molly Smith and with Mr. Gero in tow, that is currently running Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters.

Mr. Strand had a tough assignment on hand when he embarked on writing a play about Justice Scalia, who was appointed in 1986 to the Supreme Court by President Reagan. The late justice, who passed away two years ago, was and continues to be a polarizing figure in American politics. How does one create a sympathetic portrait of the very model of judicial conservatism, someone who, for example, dissented the unconstitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act? The Originalist takes a valiant stab at doing so, thereby completely bypassing parody-land, by depicting Scalia as an unshakeable constitutional purist who staunchly upheld the original meaning, as opposed to intent, of the U.S. Constitution (otherwise known as originalism, hence the play’s title). In cases such as DOMA and affirmative action, the play suggests that his decisions were determined via the argument that the Constitution was faultily interpreted, not the underlying morality of the issue at hand. In a somewhat obvious device, Mr. Strand adds a secondary character, an upshot liberal clerk, who also happens to be a black lesbian (!), to prod the aging Scalia along, fleshing out and challenging this thesis to the limit, exposing its potential faults as a conduit to effectively help and progress humanity.

A dead ringer for Scalia, Mr. Gero gives a magnificent performance as the justice. He has the gravitas and tough love charm to give unforced focus to the historically blurry figure. Supporting actors Tracy Ifeachor (as the liberal clerk) and Brett Mack (as her conservative colleague) were just fine – perhaps a bit too obviously two-dimensional, but that’s how their characters were written – even if they were merely foils for Mr. Gero’s wonderfully-wrought justice. Scalia was a serious fan of the opera. Mr. Strand’s play and Ms. Smith’s efficient production capitalize on this fact by staging the piece as if within the proscenium of an opera house, complete with chandeliers and a soundtrack comprised of operatic musical selections. It’s an effective conceit that works elegantly as a metaphor for the justice’s originalism (and our broken political system’s bipartisanship, at large)  – opera scores, like the Constitution, are what they are; their meanings are set. Or are they? Opera directors would beg to differ. But in the realm of art, perhaps both sides could meet in the middle and collaborate. We can only imagine, and hope.

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THE ORIGINALIST
Off-Broadway, Play
59E59 Theaters, originally presented by Arena Stage
1 hour, 50 minutes (without an intermission)
Through August 19