In directing this play, which commemorates the centenary of the trial, Buck emphasizes that leaders in Dayton are pursuing the same mission as their predecessors a hundred years ago.

“I’ve generated interest in this town, and I’m thrilled about the people here, positioning Dayton on the map,” Buck stated. “Perhaps we’re utilizing this narrative and trial to shine a spotlight on this unique location.”

Descendants

Jacob Smith, 23, only realized his connection to the iconic trials after delving into history. His great-great-grandmother’s brother was Walter White, the county’s school chief and a pivotal figure who brought the trial to Dayton.

Smith portrays Dudley Field Malone, Scope’s defense attorney, who delivered equally passionate and memorable speeches during the trial, in a manner reminiscent of Brian and Darrow. One of Smith’s favorite lines references the contentious nature of the courtroom battle.

“He essentially states, ‘There’s never a duel with the truth,’” Smith explained. “He argues, ‘It always prevails. It doesn’t conspire or require suspension of laws, governments, or ‘Mr. Brian’.”

Now a county archivist, Smith is eager to see visitors discover the original courthouse in Dayton, with its creaky, polished wooden floors, lofty windows, and impressive staircase leading up to the expansive courtroom on the second level.

“Like the lawyers before them, they could ascend to that circuit court and grip the railing, and back in 1925, the entire audience would have turned their gaze,” Smith noted.

“The Great General”

Larry Jones, who has been acting in community and local theatres since childhood, thought he knew the story of the Scope Trial following his performance in “The Wind Inheritance.”

He soon realized that renowned plays often embraced creative liberties, transforming into a commentary on something else that had captivated the nation at the time, such as McCarthyism.

Jones portrays Brian, a notable Christian orator and populist politician. He mentions that the most challenging aspect wasn’t memorizing Brian’s lengthy speeches, but rather responding to Darrow’s unexpected challenges that demand a defense of the literal truth of the Bible.

“I have to react instinctively and appear spontaneous each time,” Jones remarked. “Part of me thinks, ‘Oh, is that the right cue? Will I say the correct thing?’

Jones asserts that the audience will connect to the trial’s enduring narrative as it echoes into the next century. The discourse continues.

“Discussions about the same themes persist,” Jones explained. “What role should federal or state governments play in public education? What should or shouldn’t be allowed? How should parents guide their children’s education? Whether concerning evolution, literature, or numerous contemporary political issues, the debate remains alive.”

There Is No Conclusion

The trial’s outcome came as little surprise, with the jury swiftly deeming the scope guilty after mere minutes of deliberation. Nonetheless, the defense’s aim has always focused on establishing legal precedents in higher courts.

Today, Dayton embraces its historical significance during the annual trial celebration. Businesses promote “Monkey Trials,” and locals have adopted the phrase “Dayton has evolved.”

“We’re discarding very old tales, yet they feel refreshingly new,” Buck expressed. “It’s so, so very relevant now.”