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Never the Sinner

  • John Logan
  • Full Length Play, Drama, 1920s
  • 7M
  • ISBN: 9780573626715

"Remarkable."

The New York Times

"Great theatre. One of the year's best! An excellent and compelling play!"

New York Post

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Drama

  • Time Period: 1920s
  • Set Requirements: Bare Stage/Simple Set
Chicago, May 21, 1924. Nathan Leopold Jr., age 18, and Robert Loeb, age 19, killed 14-year-old Bobby Franks and were quickly apprehended when Leopold's glasses were found near the corpse. Clarence Darrow defended them, pleasing eloquently against capital punishment. Why would wealthy young men murder an innocent boy? What demons lurked behind Leob's flashing good looks? Behind Leopold's saturnine intellect?

This exquisite Off-Broadway hit explores the complex relationship between these two who longed to create a private world of fevered intellect and romantic passion. The author suggests that, given twists of fate and character, Leopold and Loeb could be anyone who has loved too much, had a broken heart, wanted to prove everlasting devotion, or looked at a loved one and thought "I'd die for you... I'd kill for you." This is a love story set to themes of crime and punishment, the press, the times, humanism, Nietzsche's philosophy and the end of the jazz age.
REVIEWS:

"Remarkable."

 The New York Times

"Great theatre. One of the year's best! An excellent and compelling play!"

 New York Post

"Riveting."

 New York Daily News

"Brilliant, powerful and cinematic!"

 Associated Press

"Sweeps the audience into the boys' friendship without losing sight of the brutal murder. Lays out the furor and the legal maneuvering surrounding this "Trial of the Century" particularly well, suggesting that nothing much has changed."

 The New Yorker

"A taut, compelling psycho sexual waltz."

 Newhouse Newspapers

"Electrifying."

 WOR Radio

Premiere Production: Never the Sinner opened in London at the Playhouse Theatre on 29 March, 1990.

Characters

  • Casting: 7M

  • LEOPOLD - Nathan Leopold, Jr. Highly intellectual student. 18-years-old. Leopold is at once coldly academic and fiercely romantic. He is nervous, arrogant, obsessed and bird-like.

  • LOEB - Richard Loeb. Another highly intellectual student. 19-years-old. Amoral, with scary flashes of true madness. Loeb is very attractive and projects an ambiguous sexual appeal and a distinct personal flair. Cat-like.

  • DARROW - Clarence Darrow. Humane, salty, tired and slouched. An old roaring lion, 67-years-old and still fighting.

  • CROWE - Robert Crowe. Pugnacious and severe State's Attorney. He is a slick Chicago lawyer and politician, intelligent and wily.

  • REPORTER 1 - Older, seasoned reporter. Also plays Dr. White, Sergeant Gortland and Bailiff.

  • REPORTER 2 - Younger, somewhat jaded reporter. Also plays Germaine Rheinhardt and Dr. Hulbert.

  • REPORTER 3 - Younger, cub reporter. Also plays Dr. Bowman.

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Never the Sinner Script This is optional. Order Now

    Chicago, May 21, 1924. Nathan Leopold Jr., age 18, and Robert Loeb, age 19, killed 14 year old Bobby Franks and were quickly apprehended when Leopold's glasses were found near the corpse. Clarence Darrow defended them, pleading eloquently against capital punishment. Why would wealthy young men murder an innocent boy? What demons lurked behind Loeb's flashing good looks? Behind Leopold's saturnine intellect?

    This exquisite Off-Broadway hit explores the complex relationship between these two who longed to create a private world of fevered intellect and romantic passion. The author suggests that, given twists of fate and character, Leopold or Loeb could be anyone who has loved too much, had a broken heart, wanted to prove everlasting devotion, or looked at a loved one and thought "I'd die for you... I'd kill for you."

    This is a love story set the themes of crime and punishment, the press, the times, humanism, Nietzsche's philosophy and the end of the jazz age.

    		$24.95

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