The Trial of the Assassin Guiteau to be presented in Readers’ Theatre
The Friends of the Harlan-Lincoln House at Iowa Wesleyan College will sponsor a readers’ theatre production entitled The Trial of the Assassin Guiteau at the Heatilator Center for the Performing Arts (mt. Pleasant) on Friday, April 23, and Saturday, April 24. Both performances will begin at 7:00 p.m. and are offered free of charge.
Directed by David File, the readers’ theatre is based on the transcript of the trial of the man who shot President James Garfield in 1881. The prosecutor in the case was George B. Corkhill of Mt. Pleasant, who graduated from Iowa Wesleyan in 1859 and was District Attorney for the District of Columbia at the time of the trial.
This real-life historical drama shows the legal system and the political scene of 1881 and illustrates comparisons between then and now. Local actors will portray the defendant, the judge, defense attorney, prosecutor, and various witnesses and other characters. Images of the times and people will be projected behind the actors/readers.
Cast members are Jim Beasley, David Edwards, John Hemsworth, Terry Hemsworth, Mark Kimzey, Christopher Olson, Lon Pugh, Angela Beasley Thomas, Kevin Wiley, Rick Williamson, and Bradley Workman, all of Mt. Pleasant.
