STAGE REVIEW : Overblown Production, Acting Spoil ‘Inherit the Wind’ at OCC

“Inherit the Wind,” at Orange Coast College, has at least one thing to recommend it: Michael C. Miller turns Henry Drummond, the lawyer modeled after Clarence Darrow, into an earthy, convincing symbol of reason and right.

Unfortunately, though, Miller isn’t enough to save the production. Directed by Alex Golson, this “Inherit the Wind” gets carried away with itself. In its efforts to depict a backwater haven of overheated fundamentalism, its crowd scenes boil over with narrow-minded monkey business, leading to some serious overacting.

More significantly, crucial courtroom scenes, even despite Miller, lack the suspense and punch that has characterized Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee’s drama over the years.

Based on the famous Scopes “monkey trial,” “Inherit the Wind” throws Drummond/Darrow against Matthew Harrison Brady (read: William Jennings Bryan) in the trial of a young teacher who has rocked the community by teaching evolution over creationism.

“Inherit the Wind” is less a story of a teacher’s trial than a compelling argument for free will and the search for knowledge. Drummond, like Darrow, loses the case, but wins the bigger battle for national public opinion.

Gauging Tom Titus’ performance as Brady isn’t easy. At first, he appears to be indulging in some mean histrionics. But then again, Brady is supposed to be a legendary blowhard, a lifelong politician who never stops acting. Titus does make him seem like a phony whose favorite religion is really the cult of Brady.

Decent portrayals are given by James Riquelme as the cynical newspaper columnist Hornbeck, Jamie Marrs as the teacher’s loyal sweetheart and Eric Person as the teacher.

‘INHERIT THE WIND’

An Orange Coast College production of the play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. Directed by Alex Golson. With Michael C. Miller, Tom Titus, Jamie Marrs, Robert Perry Sprott, Eric Person, Don Jeffries, Wendie Scott, David M. Scaglione, Andrew Jacobs, Christopher Johnson, Bob Mohan, Richard Moss III, Mindy Titus, J.R. Sterling, Dawn Ashley, David Allen, Ellen Brendan, Forrest Buckley, Diana Sterling, David Sabin, James Riquelme, Mike Collins, Lee Ruggles, Douglas Black, Jack Henrickson, Steve Sterling, Mark Coyan, Ralph Pena, B.J. Porter and Peter Roche. Sets by David Scaglione. Lighting by Ponzer Berkman. Costumes by Bridgette Harper. Plays Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. through May 14 at the OCC Drama Lab Theatre. Tickets: $5, $6. (714) 432-5880.