SODOM AND GORILLA - The Story

  The OVERTURE opens on the small southern town of
Dayton, Tennessee in 1925. The town has set up a trial
to test the Tennessee Anti-Evolution Act, and welcomes
William Jennings Bryan for the prosecution of the case
(BRYAN'S COMIN).  Clarence Darrow and his big-city
lawyers arrive to handle the defense, and the trial
begins under the jaundiced eye of newspaperman H.L.
Mencken (REPORT TO THE SUN).  During the breaks in
the trial, Bryan takes advantage of the eager crowds
to sell Florida real estate (CORAL GABLES), while his
son languishes in the great man's shadow (WHY'D HE NAME
ME JUNIOR?).  After a few days' silence, Bryan puts the
defense on the run with an impassioned speech (BRYAN
SPEAKS) and the town becomes a frenzy of pop culture
and confused religious beliefs as the first act curtain
falls (SODOM AND GORILLA).

  Act two opens with Mrs. Bryan explaining her life with
"The Great Commoner" to the defendant, John Scopes
(ALMOST FIRST FAMILY BLUES).  Scopes longs for a less
frantic summer (KATYDID), while the court bailiff gives
some views of his own (DARWIN WAS NO IRISHMAN).
Finally, Bryan goes under Darrow's cross-examination, to
disastrous effect.  Rocked by the setback, Bryan and his
wife try to come to terms with the situation (DUET), and
the trial grinds to a halt, as does Bryan. All that
remains is the big finale (THE MONKEY TRIAL).
  
        SODOM AND GORILLA premiered at Theatre 22
            in New York City, January 1984.
             Book and Lyrics by Paul Rubin
           Music by Paul Rubin & Paul Kreshka

                      THE CAST
                   Bryan - Paul Rubin
                 Mencken - Paul Kreshka
                  Scopes - Doug Overtoom
               Bryan Jr. - Craig Bland
                 Bailiff - Jeffrey Logan
              Mrs. Bryan - Janet Farrow
               Clara Mae - Carol Dearman
               Lulu Bell - Julann Rosa

              THE BAND FOR THIS RECORDING
            Paul Kreshka - Piano, Bass, Mandolin,
                             Drums, Percussion
           Jeffrey Logan - Guitar, Bongos
        Sunni Farrington - Clarinet
           Doug Overtoom - Banjo
             Neil Lifton - Percussion

       Tape produced by Neil Lifton & Paul Rubin
            Tape engineered by Mike Friese
         Tape mixed by Lifton / Rubin / Friese
       Tape recorded at Roxy Recorders, NYC 1984

Find out more about the Scopes Monkey Trial here or here