DIRECTOR’S NOTE
I’ve watched it now dozens of times: similar reactions to this play said differently. They always seem to echo the same sentiment. “This play is still so relevant.” Maybe it starts with a tentative awkward smile, but it’s never fully spoken in delight or mirth. Instead, I’ve seen a pall of recognition wash over faces for brief moments as the truth sets on its path:
It’s decades old. Still so relevant. Becasue we haven’t learned.
It can be painful to realize we still need to learn the same lessons against bigotry, nationalism, apathy, misplaced rage, and miscarried justice. Easier to think those are battles won, parts of the frozen past; icebergs of history. But the words of this play, spoken today, say otherwise. It’s not in the cool and distant past. It’s now. And its boiling.
Facts themselves are debated. Real events witnessed are questioned. Experts ignored. And, perhaps worst of all: we don't listen to each other out of ignorance, stubbornness, righteousness, hatred, and anger. Rather than work together and view discourse as a place of growth and illumination--discourse is uncivil. And perhaps, just like history, its easiest to choose not to listen.
Yet, this country was founded and built thanks to collective work and effort, not just individuals or individualism. And democracy is not a magical self-correcting machine. It requires vigilance and constant maintenance from us all. To me, this is the remarkable thing about democracy. And where this play goes gives me hope. It shows the best of us rising up against our worst natures.
For this production, we’ve forced it out of the fifties and nudged it into our present. Its populated differently. And the references are fitted for today. You may disagree with those adjustments. I respect that. If so, Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, and the work of Sydney Lumet are ready and waiting. But for me, this play isn’t meant for the museum. We need it now. We need to hear it again. For today.
We need to learn again, so decades from now, when its dusted off once more, it won’t be as relevant. When faces will shift in more curious expressions by its words. When, hopefully, this play’s lessons are more an artifact of history than today’s news.