Never the Sinner at 1st Stage Theatre

Never the Sinner

1st Stage Theatre
1524 Spring Hill Road Tysons

In a brilliant and compelling first play, award-winning playwright and screenwriter, John Logan, recreates the 1924 "trial of the century." Teenagers Leopold and Loeb kidnap and murder a 14-year-old in a sick effort to create the perfect crime. Their complex and fascinating relationship of fevered intellect, romantic passion, and distorted philosophy is unpacked by defense attorney Clarence Darrow who reshapes the trial into a vivid and powerful exploration of violence, vengeance and justice.

Thru - Apr 14, 2013

Fridays: 8:00pm

Saturdays: 2:00pm & 8:00pm

Sundays: 2:00pm & 7:00pm

Price: $25

Show Type: Drama

Running Time: 2 hrs, 30 mins with 1 intermission

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Never the Sinner Reviews

Average Rating based on 6 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

Washington Post - Highly Recommended

"..."Never the Sinner" had a memorable staging here in 1997, a co-production of Rep Stage in Columbia and Signature Theatre in Arlington, directed by Ethan McSweeny. The production moved to the American Jewish Theater in New York for a run. Now 1st Stage adds a deeply entertaining and richly emotional version to the local lexicon."

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- Jane Horwitz

DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended

"...The staging is reminiscent of a live Garrison Keillor radio show. During the action, the supporting actors remain on stage making sound effects with an old typewriter, a gavel, a bird whistle, a wind machine and even pieces of paper and a file folder. Eric Shimelonis created the sound design and props were by Cindy Landrum Jacobs, and included a floor radio, a gramophone, standing microphones, and an on-air sign. Robbie Hayes' effective set was a simple square room made from scrims decorated with a dark chair rail. The design team also included Laree Lentz (costumes), and Brian S. Allard (lighting)."

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- Yvonne French

Washington Examiner - Recommended

"...The Leopold-Loeb murder was beyond gruesome. This crisp production of "Never the Sinner" effectively takes that outrageous fact and turns it into an event that can never be forgiven or forgotten but can at least be analyzed and not simply dismissed as pure evil."

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- Barbara Mackay

ShowBizRadio - Recommended

"...With a smattering of adult language and discussion of murder, this is not a show for little ones. Mr. Skidmore and his cast and crew have created a thrilling, insightful piece of theatre that will make you question your judgment and appeal to the potential deviant within us all."

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- Eric Jones

MD Theatre Guide - Highly Recommended

"...Proving that theatre has the ability to shock, amuse, entertain, and provide insight-all in one dazzling evening-1st Stage Theatre's offering of Never the Sinner delivers on all counts. The tale of the century almost a century ago was the case of Leopold and Loeb, names forever joined together in infamy. These 2 wealthy and privileged college age young men brutally killed a young boy in an affluent Chicago suburb with seemingly no motive. The media of the day-newspaper and radio-were transfixed with the daily accounts of this tragic, fascinating tale."

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- Brian Bochicchio

DCTheatreScene - Recommended

1st Stage has arranged a clean, clear-eyed staging of Logan’s play, scaled just right, that finds compelling ways to draw us into a story full of violence, moral outrage, and courtroom rhetoric without ever losing pace.

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- Hunter Styles

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Never the Sinner at 1st Stage Theatre

Never the Sinner

Never the Sinner Reviews

Washington Post - Highly Recommended

DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended

Washington Examiner - Recommended

ShowBizRadio - Recommended

MD Theatre Guide - Highly Recommended

DCTheatreScene - Recommended

Never the Sinner Photo Gallery

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