OAKLAND CENTER 'The Exonerated' explores corruption in legal system

Actors portray falsely accused death row inmates.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Christopher Fidram directs "The Exonerated," which focuses on six death-row inmates accused of crimes they did not commit and sent to prison despite evidence that they were not guilty.
When Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen began writing this play, they traveled across the country interviewing hundreds of exonerated death row inmates. They chose six, and the play tells their stories.
The play's message deals with evils of society: corruption, lack of integrity in our judicial system and prejudice.
True stories
David Keaton (Brandon Martin), an 18-year-old black man, was accused of robbing a store and gunning down a man. He was brought in because the sheriff was seeking re-election, and needed to pin the crime on someone.
Delbert Tibbs (Clyde Holmes) was accused of murdering a man and raping a woman in Florida but wasn't in the state when they happened. Police stopped him on suspicion, and after questioning, the officer gave a statement that he was not the man they were looking for. Tibbs says, "In the south, if you're black and you are accused of a sexual crime, you might as well be guilty."
Robert Hayes (Kenneth Brown) was accused of murdering a woman he once dated. Gary Gauger (Raymond E. Beiersdorfer) was an organic farmer who found his elderly parents murdered and was accused of the crime. Kerry Max Cook (Jeff Smith) was accused of murdering a woman he had met briefly.
Because he worked in a gay bar, he was assumed gay by the other inmates and was repeatedly raped while in prison and had obscenities carved into his skin. And Sunny Jacobs (Anne Finnerty-James), a hippie with a newborn, nursing daughter, ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. She and her husband Jessie were implicated by a murderer in 1976, who confessed in 1979. Jessie was put to death, and Sunny was not released until 1992.
The underlying message of the play is not about victimization but the spirit of these people who managed to survive under the worst conditions. This play is a masterpiece, and the cast is extraordinary. It is highly recommended.
XThe show plays Nov. 11-19, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. There is a matinee Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. Because of strong language, this play is not recommended for children. For more information, call (330) 746-0404.