The comic actor took on a dramatic role as the famed attorney in Irvine last night. Though best known for his slapstick antics in movies such as Airplane! and Naked Gun, traditionally comedic actor Leslie Nielsen showed his dramatic side last night in Irvine Auditorium. In Clarence Darrow -- A One Man Show, Nielsen assumed the persona of famed attorney Clarence Darrow, forever inscribed in the history books and in the minds of the Americans because of his involvement in the Scopes Monkey Trial. In that precedent-setting case, John Scopes, a Tennessee biology teacher, was fined $100 for teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution to public school students. Darrow represented Scopes and argued the case against three-time presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan. Based on Irving Stone's book, Clarence Darrow for the Defense, the one-man show was adapted for the stage by David Rintels. Nielsen, as Darrow, stood on a sparsely set stage, his hair snowy white and his presence commanding. In monologue form, interspersed with actual dialogue from his court cases, he recounted Darrow's personal and professional life with stirring sentiment. Nielsen as Darrow spoke passionately of the battles he fought as an advocate of the underdog, the downtrodden, the victim. He re-enacted segments of his most famous cases, including the trial of socialist labor leader Eugene Debs, the murder trial of Leopold and Loeb and the Scopes trial, tackling such issues as biblical interpretation, racial discrimination and labor rights. "I do not hesitate to defend a murderer if for nothing else than to keep the state from committing a second murder," Nielsen as Darrow said of his legal philosophy. Despite the fact that the Scopes trial is considered Darrow's most noteworthy case, the show devoted only a minimal amount of dialogue to it. Instead, Nielsen delved deeply into Darrow's upbringing and personal relationships, such as his two marriages, his travels and his son. "I would rather help the working man get the eight-hour day than become President of the United States," Nielsen said as Darrow. Indeed, as demonstrated in the show, Darrow rose from humble beginnings to represent the common man. Nielsen's last words on stage were taken from the poet Omar Kayam. With a lone spotlight shining upon him, he said that all the actions he took in life were for the sole purpose, "so I be written in the book of love." Though it's likely that ticket sales could initially be attributed to the 72-year-old Nielsen's star quality and larger-than-life big-screen appeal, his performance as Darrow seemed to give the audience a whole new perspective on his talents. With a rousing standing ovation, most of the near-capacity crowd of about 1,200 surely approved. Nielsen's stop at the University is just one of many on his tour of the U.S. this fall and winter. He began in Phoenix on Septmeber 10 and is scheduled to end his run in Anchorage, Alaska, on December 15. The evening's performance was the third in the inaugural season of "The University of Pennsylvania Presents," a joint venture between the University and the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, according to Stephanie Grant, a spokesperson for the Annenberg Center. So far this year, the program has brought acclaimed vocalist Nancy Wilson and renowned flutist James Galway to perform. And upcoming events include the Best of Fringe Festival tomorrow through Thursday and Philadanco from November 18 to 20.
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