Christopher Trumbo. photo, Mark Garvin.

Dalton Trumbo, the screenwriter behind classics such as Johnny Got his Gun, Spartacus, Roman Holiday, The Brave One and Exodus, was hauled before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947. A member of the Communist party, Trumbo refused to provide the Committee with a list of other members. He was sentenced to a jail term of one year for contempt of Congress. Once out of jail, Mr. Trumbo was blacklisted in Hollywood, but continued writing screenplays, often under an assumed name or using other screenwriters as fronts. His pseudonyms won several Academy Awards.

The production by the Philadelphia Theatre Company (PTC) of the play Trumbo, written by Dalton Trumbo's son, Christopher, opened on October 13. Although he was only seven years old when his father went to jail, Christopher remembers the entire period vividly, especially the time his father spent working for Hollywood producers as a screenwriter under the blacklist. "He never went to a studio, never went out," Trumbo remembers. "Everyone had to come to the house. He had to use a series of pseudonyms for different producers." During the period he was blacklisted, Dalton Trumbo was not even able to do his own banking. To protect his identity, the father had to have several different accounts under aliases. "When I was old enough to have a driver's license, I took over the banking," Christopher Trumbo says. "Depositing checks, picking them up… it was essentially laundering money."

The script of the play Trumbo is a compilation of Dalton Trumbo's letters. While staying true to the spirit of his father's correspondence, Christopher Trumbo admits to using some amount of creative license with his text. "I had to edit a number of [the letters] to make them short enough and effectively dramatic," Trumbo says, adding, "On occasion, I would combine two or more letters… the idea is not to violate the spirit."

The action of the play takes place mostly behind Dalton Trumbo's desk. Despite being dominated by the performance of Trumbo's letters, Christopher Trumbo emphatically rejects the phrase "staged reading" in describing his work. "I like to use a musical analogy when talking about the play," says the son, "comparing it to an oratorio as opposed to an opera. I think of Trumbo as being in the tradition of letter plays like Dear Liar by Jerome Kitty, and Love Letters by A.R. Gurney-both of which rely on two actors who read from a text."

"It's designed to be read," explains Bill Irwin, the actor who plays Dalton Trumbo. Although the setting is static, Irwin explains that the letters often make great leaps in tone. "One second you're in the midst of an interview after getting an Oscar for a script; [the next] a letter from Dalton to the mother of a young man who had been killed in the war," Irwin says. "My great hope is that that will keep the audience engaged."

Irwin admits it was a challenge taking on the role of such an acclaimed and well-known writer. "I don't try to imitate Dalton Trumbo," he explains, adding, "It's really Bill Irwin representing Dalton Trumbo, but his letters are so filled with quotes and characterizations. That cuts an actor free to imagine and portray the voices [Dalton] was hearing in the letters."

Considering the current political climate in America, both the playwright and the principal actor feel that now is a particularly appropriate time to present this play. Explaining what his father would think of the Patriot Act, the younger Dalton says, "I think he would say it's ridiculous. Loyalty to government and loyalty to one's country are two separate things."

"It's a very important play right now," Irwin says. "The early fifties were a very difficult time. People are still arguing about whether Dalton did the right thing, and [his story] helps to illuminate ethical questions today-does the Patriot Act abridge civil liberties in a dangerous way, or does it defend against terrorism?"

Despite touching on serious and timely themes, both Trumbo and Irwin are quick to emphasize the lighter side of the play. "It's very funny," Irwin says, adding, "Dalton Trumbo was a really funny man, an incredible man with language." Regarding what he feels is most important or relevant about his play, Christopher Trumbo keeps his cards close to the vest, offering, "I just hope people enjoy it."

Trumbo, which also stars Bill Zielinski and was directed by Peter Askin, will run through November 7 at the Plays and Players Theatre at 1714 Delancey Street. Tickets are available by calling the PTC Box Office at 215-985-0420. Additional information can be obtained by visiting www.phillytheatreco.com.

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