Ellington

Oct 28, 2011

Todd Logan was working on a play at his Evanston, Ill., home in 2009 when he heard Attorney General Eric Holder say in spite of Obama's election there continues to be serious racial divide in America. The play he was writing was about that very subject.

"I believe Holder is right," Logan said. "I also find it's generally true, regardless of race, class and politics, when most people go to bed at night, it's in a segregated town, community, neighborhood, block or building."

He wrote the play "Defamation" to explore the racial divides.

The plot revolves Arthur Golden, a Jewish real-estate developer from Chicago's north side, found his watch missing. He accused Regina Wade, an African American graphic designer from Chicago's south side, of stealing it. Because of the accusation--which she says is false--Wade lost a major business account. She takes him to court in the play "Defamation" where the audience is the jury in a mock civil trial.

"I wanted to find a way to examine preconceived 'isms' we all have within us," Logan told the Jackson Free Press. "This play gets in the mind of the audience, so when they leave, they talk about the play and not who is taking the babysitter home."

Both sides present compelling evidence and call into question both characters' motives, backgrounds and core beliefs. After both sides present and rest their cases, the judge addresses the audience and allows for a 15-minute deliberation.

The production, after playing in the Chicago area for several weeks, heads south to Jackson for the following free shows:

• Tuesday, Nov. 1, Arts Center of Mississippi, 201 E. Pascagoula St.; 601-960-1557. The Greater Arts Council of Jackson presents this showing at 6:30 p.m.

• 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, Millsaps College Gertrude C. Ford Academic Complex Recital Hall, 1701 N. State St.; 601-362-6357. Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, Millsaps Colllege, Jackson 2000, Beth Israel Congregation, Wells United Methodist Church and New Horizon Church International present this showing.

• 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, Old Capitol Inn, 226 N. State St., 601-359-9000. Leadership Jackson Alumni Association sponsors this showing.

For information on "Defamation," visit defamationtheplay.com.