The Chicago Conspiracy Trial - starring David Schwimmer, George Murdock, and Mike Nussbaum (Audio Theatre Series) [UNABRIDGED] (Audio Cassette)

by Peter Goodchild (Author), L.A. Theatre Works (Author), Martin Jenkins (Author), Mike Nussbaum (Author), George Murdock (Performer), David Schwimmer (Performer)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Another epic: a reconstruction of the famous 1969 trial in which eight radicals, including Black Panther Bobby Seale (gagged and bound when he refused to stop shouting) and Tom Hayden (later to marry Jane Fonda) were charged with conspiring to incite the riot in the city during the Democratic Convention the previous year. Intercut with reminiscences of some of the participants, including a woman juror, this is drama documentary at its finest. -- The Sunday Times

BBC radio has done many co-production deals with American studios and actors - rarely, however, to such ear-grabbing effect as with this drama-documentary about the 1969 Chicago trial in which eight men denied conspiring to incite a riot (anti-Vietnam, and anti much else too) the year before. Peter Goodchild's dramatisation of the trial transcripts, with interpolated comments from many of those involved in the sensational hearings, have produced an amalgam of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" and an anarchic Woody Allen comedy. -- The London Times

In 1968, Chicago is a twitchy city as the Democrats roll into town for the Convention to choose their presidential candidate. Martin Luther King is dead, Robert Kennedy is dead and now here come the anti-Vietnam War protestors. Mayor Daley spies trouble and orders a tough stance against them. A year later a group of people are tried for conspiring to incite the riots that ensued. Peter Goodchild's drama-documentary, made in Chicago, splices actors' voices with those of the characters they play to bring the bizarre trial to life. The courtroom is an emotional tinderbox. The judge has been programmed to expect trouble from the defence and deal harshly with it; dirty tricks are used to select a jury bound to bring in a guilty verdict; the chief defence lawyer and the chief prosecutor loathe each other; and the defendants know the odds are stacked against them. -- The Observer

Product Description
Reality is stranger than fiction when eight 1960's radicals refuse to behave in Judge Julius Hoffman's courtroom. Based on actual trial transcripts, this play centers on events following the protests and riots during the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: L. A. Theatre Works; Unabridged edition (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158081056X
• ISBN-13: 978-1580810562
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,701,550 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great blend of drama and reality., April 27, 2000

By	Christopher M. Theisen (Rhode Island, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Peter Goodchild's take on the events following the upheaval at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago masterfully mixes real life interviews with dramatic re-enactments from the courtroom. The actors portray the 60's "hippies" with passion and reverence. The interviewing of historians and participants provides intriguing details into the events. Truly a great blend of drama and reality.