Play examines innocents on death row

GALVESTON — While 128 countries have abolished the death penalty, the United States is among the 69 countries that continue to use it.

Others include China, which executed approximately 1,770 people in 2005, Iran, which executed 94, and Saudi Arabia, which executed 86. The United States executed 60.

The Strand Theatre will present human elements to such statistics with “The Exonerated,” a set of monologues and scenes depicting the true stories of six wrongfully convicted survivors of death row.

“Harris County is actually the most active area for the death penalty in the western world,” said John Sullivan, an active member of Amnesty International.

The human rights organization acts as a watchdog for the death penalty in the United States and beyond.

“What I like about the play is that it doesn’t take sides on the death penalty,” said Brandon Dinklage, co-director of the play.

“It simply points out how the system can be broken. The stories that are shared in the script are about people who were at the wrong place at the wrong time. It could easily happen to any one of us.”

The play’s setting includes courtrooms and prisons, and the recounting of real-life experiences of the American criminal justice system gone wrong.

Sullivan said a major factor in being sentenced to death row is being too poor to afford legal representation.

“Ninety-five percent of those on death row are indigent,” he said. “Seldom, if ever, do you see someone who has a good legal team facing the death penalty.”

Sullivan shares in that sentiment of hope.

“This doesn’t have to go on as it is,” he said. “People are looking at it and public opinion is changing.”

The Strand will have a post-production panel discussion Saturday, featuring Clarence Brantley, an exonerated former death row inmate.

Brantley spent 18 years on death row for a murder he didn’t commit.

He went on to make a movie about his life titled “White Wash” and remains vocal about his exoneration.

Nicole Casarez, the director of the University of St. Thomas Innocence Project, will speak about how a school assignment to look at how many inmates on death row received due process turned into a nationwide scrutiny of the justice system.

Linda White of the Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation will also be on the panel to discuss how forgiveness is possible, even for the victim’s family.

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WHAT: “The Exonerated”

WHEN: Opens today; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through April 1

WHERE: The Strand Theatre, 2317 Ships Mechanic Row in Galveston

COST: Tickets prices range from $15 to $22

CALL: 409-763-4591