And Justice for Some at The Coterie Winter 2016

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You never know what to expect at The Coterie. Few local theaters are as diverse in their productions. Sometimes they make us laugh, sometimes they make us cry, but nearly always they make us think - and that is especially true with their current production, And Justice for Some: The Freedom Trial of Anthony Burns [1858]. The show is set in 1858, just before the rise of the Republican Party and the Presidential candidacy of Abraham Lincoln.

Anthony Burns escaped slavery and fled to Boston, Massachusetts. After a fierce defense at trial that stirred up the city of Boston with protesters and attempts to rescue Burns, he was returned to his Southern Master at the ruling of the presiding Judge. Coterie's audience witnesses the entire trial and many political events surrounding the trial, and they then participate as the 1858 Massachusetts State Senate, asking questions, posing arguments and voting to decide whether the judge had other options.

The question at hand: Should human rights outweigh the law? Should United States Judges rule with their consciences even if it undermines the law they are sworn to uphold? The question seems as relevant today as it was in 1858.

To create the world of the trial, The Coterie, in collaboration with UMKC, approached this production differently. The sets are simplistic and set the tone for the seriousness of the production. The show portrays over forty characters played only by seven actors - and the actors and actresses play parts that cross gender and racial lines. You will see African Americans portraying Caucasian characters, and the roles of male characters are often portrayed by actresses, while one prominent woman is portrayed by an actor. Some of these parts generated laughter from the audience, but overall it forced the audience to listen carefully to what was being said much more than focusing on who was saying it. Does a particular observation change if expressed by someone else?

The costumes and props were not period true, but were more artistic in nature with a blend of semi-period shirts, jackets, and vests, with stone washed jeans. Again, this approach took the focus from the period in history to the question the audience was considering: Should human rights outweigh the law? And is the answer an absolute truth regardless of the attitudes and views of the time period in history.

To help school groups prepare for this show, included in the price of the ticket, each paid group of 20 or more may receive a pre-show workshop at their school to put history in context and to prepare each student to be a senator in the time period. This show is best for middle school students and up.

The show runs approx. 70 minutes. After witnessing the trial of Anthony Burns and hearing from abolitionists, a slave owner, religious and community leaders, the audience (having been sworn in as Massachusetts Senators) has an opportunity to pose arguments in favor of or opposed to the ruling, and they also have a chance to ask questions of the actors (in character). Each audience then votes as to whether the judge was correct to uphold the law and return Burns to his slave owner in Virginia, or if he should have ruled with his abolitionist views and set him free. 

This is one of the most thought-provoking performances on stage at The Coterie. Before attending, prepare your students with information at coterie.edublogs.org

And Justice for Some: The Freedom Trial of Anthony Burns [1858] thru Feb. 21 816.474.6552