Horse TRADE and EXIT Theatre Present
The Two Lives of Napoleon Beazley
Open and Uncensored Indie Theater Fest

Napoleon Beazley (Carlton Byrd) and Henry Boyd (Ethan Cadoff) prepare for the next round of appeals. Photo by Chris Brander

Have you ever wondered about the morality of the death penalty? What about the place of the death penalty in a civilized society and its relationship to our social ideals? What about capital punishment applied to minors in 21st century America? Is our justice system really blind (or color-blind)? If you’re uncertain or torn on any of these questions, you definitely want to see this show.

The current production of The Two Lives of Napoleon Beazley by Incumbo Theater Company at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center (Lower East Side) is a wonderful exercise for the mind, especially in a time when it seems more and more entertainment is by design so undemanding. Smartly dramatized by John Fleming from a concept by Dana Nau and wonderfully directed by Alexandra Farkas, the play is based on actual events of a legal debate that took place not long ago in rural Texas. It explores all the possible sides of the trial and fate of Napoleon Beazley (Carlton Byrd), a promising young African–American student who, trying to fit in and buckling to peer pressure, committed the crime that put him on death row.

Race, economic status and the difference between legislation and the actual administration of the law are some of the issues that are explored here, showing us that in a murder case in which capital punishment is even an option, there will likely be many more victims than just a few; that we, as a society, are still far away from understanding the real meaning and value of human life.

Napoleon Beazley (Carlton Byrd), dead young man walking. Photo by Chris Brander

The story is narrated by Napoleon’s lawyer, Henry Boyd, who is the one character who interacts with all the others. This structure gives clarity and continuity to a complex story and the assured performance by Ethan Cadoff makes Boyd a steady, sympathetic presence through which to experience the play.

The development of the story relies heavily on the convincing back and forth between Boyd and the prosecutor assigned to the case played by Rob Sheridan. Mr. Sheridan shines in multiple roles, switching back and forth from Texas lawyer to prison chaplain with astonishing speed and aptitude. Also delivering memorable performances among the solid ensemble are Rick Busser and Rita Marchelya.

This play is guaranteed to challenge and move even the toughest of audience members, accomplishing to a great degree the stated aim of Incumbo Theater (taken from their mission statement printed in the playbill), that says they are a company “founded on the belief that one of the fundamental purposes of art is to challenge the audience at a personal and social level.” For me the evening offered solid entertainment that didn’t require me to check my brain at the door.