The Exonerated

[RobbO]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 5:10pm

has anyone heard anything about this play? have you seen it?

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 5:33pm

I know it is currently on tour...

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 6:33pm

Yes. I saw it last fall with Richard Dreyfus, Jill Clayburgh and a bunch of other people. It is the story of people who spent significant amounts of time on death row for crimes of which they were eventually found innocent. The ten or eleven actors sat in a row, on stools behind music stands, and told their stories. The style was reminiscent of The Laramie Project, only more minimalistic. It was mezmerizing.

The night I was there, the *real* people whose stories were told were in the audience, but the cast didn't know that until after the performance. There was an impromptu question and answer session that followed. Very intense. Really makes you think how easily opinion can be misconstrued as fact, how easily one can be labeled, and how quickly one's fortunes can turn.

I think it is still playing in the Village. And I think it is also touring. The nature of the casting is to change often. Very interesting. See it if you can.

[stagedoorguy]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 6:36pm

It is a great and powerful piece of theater. It might change and/or challenge your opinion of the death penalty. Bob Balaban directed it and it’s revolving cast is usually terrific. I got to interview several members of the production on my A&E show and found Kerry Max Cook, one of the real life exonerated, a compelling and articulate guest with a sad and amazing story. Imagine yourself in prison for almost 20 years...for something you did not do.
Kerry Max Cook's homepage

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 11/5/03 at 10:20am

I was listening to NPR (WNYC AM in New York) this morning and they had a segment about people who had been released from prison after having been exonerated during the past year. Apparently, there are programs in place when someone is released after having served the sentence, but there is NOTHING done, in most states, to help someone who is exonerated to reintegrate into society. They cited one guy who was freed after having been wrongfully imprisoned for 22 years for a crime he didn't commit. He was turned loose without even enough money to make a phone call. Nothing was done to expunge his record. It was as if "Ooops, we made a mistake. Have a nice life." Features such as this can usually be found on a National Public Radio website...it's probably on the WNYC website already. (Sorry....I can't check it out from work....) I found it pretty interesting and disturbing, particularly in light of having been thinking about the play.