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‘Specter’ presents ‘what-if’ scenario
By ERIC McCREA
YOUNGSTOWN
The Victorian Players commemorated the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy on Friday with the opening of “Specter of Treason: The Oswald Trial.” Written by J.E. Ballantyne Jr., this show is centered around the trial that Lee Harvey Oswald would have had if he had survived being shot by Jack Ruby.
The show begins shortly after the arrest of Oswald, played by John Pecano, and shortly before that fateful transfer to the county jail, when Ruby made his mark on history.
The brief first act is followed by a lengthy second act, which focuses on the investigation process and trial, as led by attorneys Gerald Michaelson (Alan McCreary) and Richard Donnally (Brady Flamino). During the third act, also lengthy, the audience hears closing arguments and gets to vote on the outcome of the trial using special voting keypads provided by Turning Technologies. The show’s ending varies depending on how the audience, acting as the jury, votes on the trial.
Once the jury foreman, a volunteer from the audience, reads the jury’s decision, the show is quick to end.
Getting there, however, is no short feat. The show is almost four hours long. Throughout, the show also incorporates video footage, some historical and some featuring locals Bill Finley, Rich Morgan, and Stan Boney re-creating news broadcasts that might have occurred if Oswald had been tried.
With a cast of more than 30, this show is quite an undertaking for The Victorian Players. Most of the actors appear only briefly as witnesses during the trial or as secret informants, bringing up information to be used in the trial. Overall, they perform quite admirably, though the short span of their individual stage time, combined with the many cast members who appear, make it difficult to remember many of them.
Tara Lee Holl stood out as Marina Oswald, Lee’s Russian wife. Barbara Malizia as attorney Sharon Dunne is sharp and cutting.
Terri Wilkes is quite memorable as Marguerite Oswald, Lee’s mother.
John Pecano as Oswald spends much of the show being silent at his trial, but has an amazing scene toward the end with his attorney and wife. Unfortunately, by then, the audience has all but lost interest due to the show’s length.
Though there are many scene changes, they are done rather quickly, contributing little to the length of the show. The multimedia inclusion went rather smoothly, with only a few hiccups here and there.
The second act ends with a scene set in the office of Guy Bannister, which does little to propel the plot and leaves the audience slightly confused.
Halfway through the third act, the closing arguments of the prosecutor and defense attorney seem to go on forever.
If you’re a fan of conspiracy theories, especially those surrounding Lee Harvey Oswald and the Kennedy assassination, this show is not to be missed.
“Specter Of Treason” runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. until Dec. 8. For reservations, call 330-746-5455.