Jackson Free Press

"For a man to act himself, he must be perfectly free; otherwise he is in danger of losing all sense of responsibility or of self-respect."
— Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau, one of the most well-known free thinkers in American literature, was the original "no-government man." Most of us can probably coax our rusty minds into recalling from high school lit class that he wrote "Walden," he hung out with Ralph Waldo Emerson, etc. What we may have forgotten, however, is that Thoreau was also an early conservationist, an ardent abolitionist and a highly unconventional public figure.

By virtue of the stage, you'll have a chance to come face to face with Thoreau. The Millsaps Players present "The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail" Nov. 18-20 at 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinee on Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. The play, written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee (who also penned scripts for "Inherit the Wind" and "Auntie Mame"), delves into the life and mind of a man ahead of his time. Thoreau was heartily opposed to the Mexican-American War. He believed that the effort was unjust, and he also made objection to the fact that President Polk entered into war without the approval of Congress. When the time came to pay taxes, Thoreau refused on the grounds that he would not support something he did not believe in. As a result, he found himself unceremoniously jailed.

But even though Thoreau was imprisoned, his mind was free to wander. Through flashbacks and conversations, the play tells the story of Thoreau's life and his beliefs, and both eerily speak to some of today's most controversial issues.

"I chose to produce this play because it seemed the right story at the right time for the right place," said Anne Sullivan, director of the production. "The story revolves around two historical and literary giants, Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, in the context of their struggles with war, the environment, civil rights, education, the role of government, and both personal and professional relationships. The very topics we struggle with today are those that Thoreau struggled with in the 1800s and those that the playwrights struggled with when they wrote the script in 1970."

Authors Lawrence and Lee acknowledge that "for more than a century, Thoreau was dismissed as a gifted weirdo." In more modern times, his philosophies have commanded tremendous respect, influencing the personal and political doctrines of leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Ghandi. (Who says that passive resistance never got anyone anywhere?)

In this production, form seems to follow content, with the show presented arena-style—the audience seated on all four sides of the stage—allowing the actors to play off audience members. The set, in keeping with Thoreau's admiration for simplicity, consists of two jail cell cots.

"Because of our production choices, we are having a wonderful time guiding our audience in using their imaginations as we suggest a schoolroom, a meadow, a boat ride, a town square. Because we've made these choices in minimalism, we have found the words rising to a new level. The emphasis is on the text," Sullivan said.

The language of the play is beautiful, capturing much of the cadence and poetry of Thoreau's writings. In addition, the script challenges the audience in a way reminiscent of playwrights such as Ibsen. The result is entertaining, often emotional and unabashedly thought-provoking.

Plan for coffee with friends afterwards. You'll want to discuss this one.

All performances will take place in the Christian Center auditorium on the Millsaps campus. Tickets are $8 for seniors and students, $10 for general admission. For more information, contact Brent Lefavor at 974-1321 or [e-mail missing]