If you voted YES on the death penalty question in November then don't see Carroll College Theater's production "Dead Man Walking" this weekend.
The play, about the beginning of Sister Helen Prejean's crusade to befriend and advocate for death row inmates, is set around Angola prison and favors forgiveness. Sister Prejean understands Jesus' teachings to mean that killing is horrible but killing one doesn't justify killing another.
The play is more thought provoking than entertaining and, with what's going on in the news lately, is very timely. The director, Rob Goodman of First Stage, produced a flawless play with excellent actors and crew and the set design really worked well to broaden our thinking. The steel bars were constantly rearranged to suggest, in some way, that we are all in our own prison.
A unique aspect of this play is that there are talk-back discussions after each performance. Even though only about a fourth of the sold out crowd stayed after the Friday night play, it was interesting to talk to the actors, director, a nun and someone who's met Sister Prejean and heard her speak.
Another interesting thing about the play is the smoking. Even though no smoking is allowed in the theater, two of the actors smoke several times during the play. They don't inhale.
The cost of the play is $15.00 for adults. I got there around the beginning and still got a ticket but it was pretty full by the time it started. It plays at the Otteson Mainstage Theatre on the Carroll campus today and tomorrow only, 2/24 and 2/25, at 2 pm and 7 pm. If you go, try to see the art in the Rowe Art Gallery in the same building during the 15 minute intermission. It's really great.
