Timeless Execution of Justice

February 21st, 2012

As a member of the front of house staff for CFA’s production of Execution of Justice, I have had the ability to see the show multiple times this past weekend. Attending this piece of theatre was such an illuminating experience, and I urge you to take a trip to the Virginia Wimberly Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts to witness this show for yourself (free with your Terrier Card).

Execution of Justice, by Emily Mann, chronicles the trial of Dan White, convicted of the murders of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Member of the Board of Supervisors Harvey Milk. Virtually all of the dialogue is collected from court transcripts, television reports, and witness interviews. The CFA production is directed by head of Theatre Arts at CFA, Elaine Vann Hogue, and features actors from the School of Theatre (mostly undergrads.)

This play is much more than a documentary of the events that led to Dan White’s verdict, which resulted in two counts of voluntary manslaughter (serving only five years in prison.) Yes, we watch both the prosecution and defense (including the now famous “Twinkie Defense”) unfold. We meet real people who inhabited this era (such as Sister Boom Boom, played by Ben Martin, and Secretary to the Mayor Cyr Copertini, played by Charlotte Thomas), and we also witness events such as the candle lighting and riots that took place as the trial reached its verdict. Most importantly, though, Execution of Justice is a call to action to recognize and fight injustice. The play’s title takes on an unfortunate double meaning: in official, legal terms, justice is executed by means of a juror’s verdict, but what happens when this verdict destroys the justice that it should be upholding?

The use of space toys with this idea ingeniously. The theatre is transformed into a playing space that transcended the proscenium. Some audience members are seated on stage, representing a jury of peers, and actors occupy the house just as much as the stage (allowing for a particularly effective movement-based riot scene.) We become a part of the story, and this became overwhelming for me at times. The more I heard from Defense Attorney Douglas Schmidt (played marvelously by Kate Hamilton,) the more anxious I became—because I was actually beginning to see so rationally the side I opposed. Both Hamilton and Ian Geers (playing Dan White) were so passionate and believable—their dedication to finding the humanity in these characters is certainly to be commended. As Ian pointed out in a post-show talkback, there is a moment in the production where White enthusiastically shakes hands with many audience members, and it isn’t until afterwards that the audience realizes the uneasiness of becoming involved in this very act.

The story of Harvey Milk is an important story for all—not just the LGBT community. I am grateful that these events have become a conversation point in a growing conversation of civil rights. I am also grateful for works such as Execution of Justice, that not only call forward the Moscone-Milk murders as a piece of history, but also as a depiction and exploration of what happens when we put the court system itself on trial.

Execution of Justice runs through February 24 at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street. BU Students can receive one free day-of ticket per ID at the door, subject to availability.

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Ryan McPhee (COM 2012) Indulging in art on the stage, in the kitchen, and everywhere in between. @mchadoaboutryan