Or rather, yet another evening with Clarence Darrow, this one written and acted by Henry Miller. First there was Henry Fonda's sublime, Tony-nominated performance in David W. Rintels' one-man 1974 Broadway show. That Darrow, redirected by John Houseman for television, is newly out on DVD. In 1999, Clarence Darrow Tonight!, which Laurence Luckinbill wrote, starred in, and directed, may have helped introduce a new generation to the man who is likely still the best-known 20th-century American lawyer. Any subject so esteemed might deserve a new biography, in book form or on stage or film, at any time. But precious little about Darrow that was not known in his lifetime has surfaced since his death in 1938.
Thus Miller, a trial lawyer of long standing, could only retread familiar ground, which he does less well than his predecessors. The format is familiar: Darrow addressing the audience as if in court, a lecture hall, or at home. Miller gives us the defense attorney's career highlights, such as the Scopes trial and his advocacy for Leopold and Loeb and other unpopular (and guilty) clients. The playwright deals with the lawyer's relatively few downs in this 90-minute show, and offers a peek into his private life. Yet Miller's performance seems self-satisfied and perfunctory, as if it were enough just to be bringing Darrow back to the stage once more. The actor's untamed Brooklyn accent doesn't help his portrayal of the unrepentant Midwesterner.
Director Laurie Brown Kindred appears outflanked by her author-actor in terms of presentation. The one knockout element of this production is Chris Jones' scenic design: a triple-threat mahogany set that simply and elegantly represents several courtrooms, a lecture hall, and Darrow's home library. Michael Allen's equally convincing set for the Luckinbill production was in oak. At least there's one difference.
Presented by A New Dawn in association with Town Square Productions at the 45th Street Theatre, 354 W. 45th St., NYC. Nov. 5-Dec. 10. Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 3 p.m. (212) 868-4444 or www.smarttix.com.