We live in an age when our country is bitterly divided. It becomes more and more difficult to see the good in those whose political views are in direct opposition to our own. For this reason, The Originalist is very much a play for our time. As far as many in the audience are concerned, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia (Edward Gero) could not have been more wrong on so many seminal issues. He was immovably opposed to reproductive rights for women, gay marriage, and gun control. He even called himself “a monster.” In spite of this, he was a quality human being. If there are any doubts, consider his deep friendship with fellow justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who, at the very least, is a fine judge of character. They shared being from the New York City area, a love of opera, and a fierce dedication to the law. A little-known fact is that Scalia routinely hired a liberal law clerk as one of his four picks. He enjoyed intelligent debate, and in this play, Cat (Tracy Ifeachor) gives him a run for his money. She’s also a Harvard Law graduate, and a Catholic; but in addition, Cat is African American, a lesbian, and as smart as they come. Beyond scrappy, she challenges Scalia to defend his position on Affirmative Action almost from the moment they meet. At the heart of their disagreement is the fundamental question of whether the Constitution is a living document, open to interpretation, as Cat believes, or “dead,” as Scalia asserts. He tells her the Constitution must be taken exactly as written, and like opera, the notes never change. Cat is also battling with her comatose dad’s illness. She lives to please him; she needs his wisdom and guidance and is deeply sad and frustrated when she can’t reach him. Scalia’s sympathy and spiritual guidance at this moment in her life shows how deeply humanitarian he is at heart. He himself has nine children and understands the bonds between father and child. A preppy/sleazy guy named Brad (Brett Mack) is also hired to work for the archconservative Justice. He’ll do anything to ingratiate himself; he’s totally instep with Scalia’s politics. Cat brushes off his attempts to intellectually seduce her but is still moved to ask “how much money?” when Brad tells her she can clean up as a “prettier Condi Rice.” He then tries to intimidate her by telling her that because she’s gay, it may reflect badly on Scalia because she’s working on a case that involves civil rights for homosexuals. Cat feels she has to come clean to the boss about her sexuality, but of course, he already knew. The Originalist has an interesting history. It premiered, logically, at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. in 2015. It has since played in Sarasota, Pasadena, and Chicago. At the heart of the production is Edward Gero, whose magnificent performance has kept the show fresh and vital. We never personally knew Antonin Scalia, who died in 2016, but because of Gero’s tour de force portrayal, we feel we do. He seamlessly weaves together the seemingly disparate elements of his character. Gero is ably supported by Tracy Ifeachor as Cat, the tough and tender up-and-coming lawyer he chooses to be his protégé and sparring partner. How wonderful it would be if we could learn to disagree and to also learn from each other by really listening and intelligently discussing issues. The Originalist offers us a pathway.
