“The Exonerated” exposes our justice system’s failures

STORRS — There’s no law against being poor in the United States, unless of course, you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, and then, nothing but money, and lots of it, is going to help.
That’s just one of the lessons in “The Exonerated,” at Connecticut Repertory Theater — the true story of six people wrongfully accused of murder and convicted on death row in Texas and Florida.
The story, mostly taken from court and legal transcripts, needed no additional theatrics. The stage, backdrop, and ceiling were all unfinished wood, by Michael Anania — a fine simple backdrop for each of the now freed but forever altered individuals to tell their horrid, almost unbelievable stories.
Let’s just say this show probably isn’t getting a whole lot of play in Texas and Florida theaters, since that is where these travesty of justice all occurred.
It follows the lives of innocent victimized people with diverse backgrounds, who were literally railroaded by the justice system. None had a lawyer with them from the beginning and all had appointed lawyers.
What weaves the stories elegantly together is the bluesy original songs by Cedric H. Turner, who plays Delbert and serves as the play’s narrator. Delbert was convicted of murder and rape in Florida solely because he was black, they couldn’t find anyone else, and he was a stranger in town.
All their stories are remarkably horrific, but Sunny (Christina Greer) the vegetarian hippie with two children and her husband has to be one of the most appalling. She and her partner were basically the fall guys in a plea bargain by the real murderer in 1976. He later recanted in 1979, but it wasn’t until 1992, over 16 years later, that she was released and then only under a plea deal that did not expunge her record.
Her children’s father wasn’t so lucky and was electrocuted in 1990 in a spectacularly botched barbarous death that took over 12 minutes at one point with flames shooting out of his ears.
Also unbelievable is the story of Kerry, sensitively played by Phil Korth, because it took him over 21 years to get out of prison for a murder he didn’t commit. During his trial he was publicly accused of being gay, making his life in prison a living tortuous daily Hell.
The only problem with the actors isn’t really their fault, but only Turner is close to the real age of the Delbert, while all the other actors are just too youthful and healthy to play people for whom the justice system has totally fallen apart.
The actors are all believable in their performances, with convincing southern accents, but it takes a suspension of disbelief by the audience to overcome the age discrepancy.

THE EXONERATED

Three Stars
Theater: Connecticut Repertory Theatre
Location: Nafe Katter Theater, 802 Bolton Rd., Storrs
Production: Written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen. Directed by Dale AJ Rose. Scenic design by Michael Anania. Costume design by Jeanette Drake. Lighting design by Mike Billings. Sound design by Jack Nardi. Technical direction by Ed Weingart. Production stage manager Mary P. Costello. Original music and arrangements by Cedric H. Turner.
Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission.
Show Times: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. through Oct. 18.
Tickets: General admission $11 to $29. Call 860-486-4266 or visit their website at www.crt.uconn.edu.
ACTOR…CHARACTER
Cedric H. Turner … Delbert
Christina Greer … Sunny
Brooks Brantley … Robert
Brittany Green … Georgia
Kevin Coubal … Gary
Phil Korth … Kerry
Philip AJ Smithey … David
Gretchen Goode … Sandra, Sue