ʻExoneratedʼ thrills audience

Kevin Perez kperez.roundupnews@gmail.com

At Pierce College, in the hands of director Valorie Grear, “The Exonerated” finds an appropriate fit in the Temporary Performing Arts Complex, where the smaller space creates a more intimate atmosphere, augmented by great performances from the cast.

“The Exonerated” is an awardwinning drama written by Jessica Blank and Eric Jensen, based on the six real stories of innocent citizens put on death row before being set free years later.

The play takes the form of a nonlinear series of dramatic monologues told by the six convicted and later exonerated citizens.

due to racism, corruption, or the flaws in institutions like the police or justice system that dramatically impacts their lives.

Although the play is commendable for tackling such heavy themes, due to most of the play’s action coming from stories told by characters on stage, the messages can come across as too obvious and preachy.

While the play succeeds in handling its themes, it’s up to the audience members to decide what to make of the character experiences.

Cliff Ingram, who plays Delbert Tibbs in the play, stands out in particular. His booming voice weaves the different stories together by reciting poetry or offering commentary, sometimes humorous and sometimes serious, but always insightful.

“The cast has been working on the play diligently,” Chase Fulton, who plays Kerry Max Cook in the play said.

“We have been rehearsing close to 20 hours a week for almost two months,” he said, “We explore, make mistakes, make discoveries and refine the play.”

The scenery, designed by Michael Gend, remained sparse, with only a few chairs on stage and a trio of chainlink fences in the background. At the center of the stage sat one ominous chair, representing the electric chair during a few scenes, which cast a threatening shadow over the play.

Lara enjoys Cooper’s class because it reminds of her of childhood.

“My biggest compliment is when a student takes something home,” Cooper said. “And they tell their parents ‘Look at what I made today.’”

The common thread tying their stories together, besides their eventual exoneration, is a background of oppression in their lives. Whether it is

The performers’ skills are not entirely shocking. Some of the cast members already have experience working in theatre.

The sound, designed by Edward Salas, further contributed to the somber atmosphere. Music was minimal, and the music that was present consisted of bare instrumentals that highlighted the more dramatic moments of the play.

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