Show focuses on Darrow, infamous Mahoning native

A California man will put on a one-man show on the life of Clarence Darrow.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Spend just a few minutes talking with actor Gary Anderson, and it is obvious that he has a passion for the characters he portrays.
Anderson, who makes his home in California, travels around the country performing plays by American playwrights about people who have become American legends. He will be in Youngstown on Friday presenting a one-man show about Clarence Darrow, described as "the most hated and celebrated lawyer in American history."
The play is called "Clarence Darrow: The Search For Justice," and it is easy to understand why Anderson has become known for his portrayal of this larger than life figure. Anderson speaks of Darrow as if he had been a lifelong friend, and his personal admiration for this courageous man, warts and all, is unsuppressed.
Darrow was born in the Mahoning Valley, near Kinsman. He studied law in Youngstown, and later moved to Chicago, but his famous trials took him all over the country.
Larger than life
He is most known for his opposition to the death penalty, saving 102 prisoners from death row. He also fought for civil liberties, separation of church and state and many of the labor laws we now take for granted. But he is perhaps best known for a case that he actually lost, the Scopes Monkey Trial, against a teacher who taught Darwin's theory of evolution, in 1925.
He was also probably guilty of jury tampering, kept a mistress or two, and was a workaholic who often wore slept-in suits to court. In spite of his flaws and foibles, few can dispute the positive influence he had on the development of the character of this country. Anderson's interpretation of him is nothing short of heroic.
"He was, at times, confused and had many ups and downs," said Anderson. "His life story would make a great opera. He wasn't afraid to take risks, admit he was wrong, or change his mind if he learned something that influenced his opinion."
"He did what he needed to do. In his autobiography, 'The Story of My Life,' he says: 'I really have no philosophy, no grand plan; I run on emotions.'"
But Anderson feels Darrow had great integrity and fought for what he believed in, noting that he fought against corrupt union leaders and crooked politicians.
Anderson paints Darrow as a tragic figure, who often considered suicide when he was put on trial for jury tampering, but whose life was possibly saved by his mistress.
And that is just a smattering of history that Anderson shares in his two-act play. If you want to experience an evening of scandal, humor, excitement and courage, see "Clarence Darrow: The Search for Justice."
The play will be 7:30 p.m. Friday at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1105 Elm St., Youngstown; call (330) 746-3067 for ticket information.