Redemption: Is redemption possible or are wrongdoers forever condemned? Chicago’s renowned Steppenwolf Theater Company tackles that issue with “Downstate,” a new play by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winner Bruce Norris premiering in Chicago on Sept. 20 and running through Nov. 11, 2018; the play is already slated for a London production in spring 2019. Downstate comes to the stage as the U.S. criminal justice system is under increasing scrutiny and questions grow louder about draconian laws for sexual wrongdoing—measures that create scarce benefit to public safety while making a human and constitutional rights nightmare for many. Over 900,0000 are listed on the sex offense registry. Some five to six thousand individuals languish in locked facilities because Kafka-esque statutes allow indefinite detention (sex offense civil commitment) when the government has nothing more than a hunch you might do something wrong. On these matters reason long ago left the room–lawmakers continue to pass harsh, ineffective laws and judges rarely get in their way. Let’s hope Downstate opens lots of minds! The Daily Herald has more about the play, have a look. -Bill Dobbs, The Dobbs Wire [email protected]
Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) | Sept. 18, 2018
Steppenwolf’s new drama ‘Downstate’ explores the lives of sex offenders
By Scott C. Morgan
Excerpts: In the play, Guinan plays Fred Nyberg, a paroled sex offender living with three others convicted of crimes against minors. The main drama erupts when a man arrives at their group home, located about 280 miles south of Chicago, to confront his childhood abuser.
“It’s a Bruce Norris play, so it’s like two and a half hours with people you ordinarily wouldn’t be caught dead with,” Guinan joked. “But the insights you get from that are often more revelatory than from much more easily tolerable characters.”
It’s a co-production with the National Theatre of Great Britain, so Guinan is looking forward to making his London stage debut when “Downstate” crosses the pond this spring. MORE:
“Downstate”
Location: Upstairs Theatre at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago, (312) 335-1650
Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (also Sunday, Sept. 23, Oct. 7 and 14), 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (6 p.m. Sept. 30), 2 p.m. Wednesday matinees from Oct. 17-31; through Nov. 11
Tickets: $20-$99
More information:
https://www.steppenwolf.org/tickets–events/seasons/2018-19/downstate/
I have not seen the play but from what I ve read there seems to be a factor there ignoring. Most convictions come from plea deal. I don’t have the exact %. I think more research to get exact numbers would be helpful. That aside those accused are not on a even field with prosecutors. Most convictions are made from absolutely no physical evidence only he said she said testimony and 90% of people are going to believe a woman over a ruff looking guy every time. So if a man goes to court with no physical proof he’s innocent he will be convicted just on here say, guaranteed. So he must plea , plus it’s my experience that prosecution also threatens to add other trumped up charges if it goes to court so what choice do you have.
Also are they addressing the fact that most convictions are not child molestion or rape but very minor offenses many with no victims . But there categorizing all in the same pot. If you want to see how good normal people are at telling whether someone is lying or not watch the TV show To Tell The Truth. Our judgment is less than 50% accurate in determining who’s lying or not.