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Event
Never the Sinner
"I could see the sin . . . I could hate the sin . . .but never the sinner." -- Clarence Darrow
In 1924, in Chicago, two wealthy young teenagers murdered a 14-year-old acquaintance named Bobby Franks. Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb believed they were superior beings above the law, but they were quickly discovered, arrested and brought to trial. Clarence Darrow, on a crusade against the death penalty, agreed to take their case. The whole country ate up daily newspaper stories about their sexual relationship, their crime, and their trial.
Senseless violence and killing is terrifying, but fascinating. We all want to know how the killers' minds work, what made them do it, WHY? The story of Leopold and Loeb was the inspiration for, among other things, Rope (Alfred Hitchcock film, 1959); Compulsion (Meyer Levin novel, 1956, later made into a play and movie); and Murder by Numbers (2002 movie starring Sandra Bullock). They were also featured on an episode of "Biography" in the same year. Even Inherit the Wind, about Darrow's famous defense in the Scopes "monkey trial," has a reference to Leopold and Loeb.
John Logan, later to write screenplays for Gladiator, Any Given Sunday, and The Aviator, read Levin's novel one day and was hooked. Out of his fascination and years of feverish research came Never the Sinner. It premiered in Chicago in 1985, and won Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Theater Award for Outstanding New Play for that year. Writes Logan in his introduction, "I hope I have been true to the absolute cruelty of the characters and the senseless savagery of their crime, while still presenting the very human passions that compelled them." And in a production note: "One final point to remember: this is a love story."
Mercury Players Theatre couldn't agree more; are you ready Wisconsin?
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LocationBartell Theatre
113 East Mifflin Street (Just off the Capitol Square)
Madison, WI 53703
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
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Contact
Q&A
| Question: |
I need a ticket stub for proof of attendance. Will I get one: a) if I get my ticket at the door; and b) if I order it over the phone? |
| Answer: |
Because it is so close to the date of the performance, if you order the tickets online or over the phone with Brown Paper Tickets, your name will be on a will-call list, and there won't actually be physical tickets issued. The box office may be able to work something out for you - their telephone number is (608) 661-9696 x5 |
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