McHenry County Bar Association putting on production of play depicting Lincoln's last murder trial – Raising money for 4 charities
The McHenry County Bar Association (MCBA) is taking the stage – and for a good cause – four causes actually. The MCBA is putting on a production of a very recent one-act play entitled “The Affray: Lincoln’s Last Murder Case.” The script was based on actual transcripts from People v. Peachy Quinn Harrison, a trial from Sangamon County in 1859, and is purported to be Abraham Lincoln’s successful defense of Mr. Harrison before he went on to the national stage. The play is the work of two Illinois Wesleyan University professors, Robert Bray and Jared Brown.
The idea for the local production came from Huntley attorney and past MCBA President Michael J. Fleck, who saw the original production last June in Bloomington at the historic Courthouse as put on by the McLean County Museum in partnership with Illinois Voices Theatre. After seeing the play, which he described as entertaining and interesting, he asked the authors if they would be interested in having the play re-produced, to which they agreed. After taking his idea to the MCBA Board of Governors, it was decided that the play could be presented in conjunction with “Law Day” festivities – a number of MCBA sponsored events celebrating the legal system that are participated in by a number of Bar Associations and coordinated overall by the American Bar Association (ABA).
The MCBA then decided to make the play a fund raiser for some local charities, each of which have an affiliation with the local legal system. They are: (1) Turning Point, offering services related to domestic violence for women and children; (2) Prairie State Legal Services, assisting low-income persons in legal matters; (3) McHenry County Youth Service Bureau, enhancing the quality of life of children and families through programs and services which foster commitment to positive change and better personal choices; and (4) Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), providing trained volunteers to advocate for child victims of abuse and neglect in Juvenile Court and in the foster care system.
The play is directed by the experienced and talented local theater stalwart Kathie Comella and features a number of local attorneys, a judge, and other actors, including Lincoln impersonator, Max Daniels.
“We are excited to be stepping out of our daily routine to be doing something fun, interesting and helpful for the community,” Fleck said, who is producing the play and is also one of the cast members. “It’s a great chance for the Bar Association to ‘give back’ in a way that honors one of the state’s greatest lawyers – Lincoln. We are fortunate to have some firms and businesses further sponsor the event to help underwrite the cost of the production. I am grateful that the Bar has decided to add this to Law Day this year, and especially wish to thank the Board, MCBA President Jamie Rein, Law Day Chair Vonda Vaughn, and Administrative Assistant Margaret Bengtson for all of their help and support.”
The play will be presented at 7:30 PM on May 4-5, 2012 at the Woodstock Performing Arts Center, Woodstock North High School, 3000 Raffel Road, Woodstock, IL 60098. Tickets are $20.00 each and are available online at https://tix5.seatyourself.biz/webstore/webstore.html?domain=mcbar&event, or you may contact the MCBA at 815-338-9559.