Even if you haven't heard of the events Kent State May 4th, 1970, you probably have seen the iconic photograph of Mary Veechio screaming over the corpse of student Jeff Miller. In the spring of 1970, protests were gaining momentum across the United States, against the countries involvement in the Vietnam War. In late April of that year President Nixon ordered the bombing of Cambodia, which led to a string of student protests across the American University campuses throughout the USA. At Kent State University, the National Guard are called in to quell campus unrest over the weekend, arriving on the Saturday night. On the Monday when the full body of students return to campus from the weekend break, they find themselves under military occupation. A rally is called to protest at the presence of the guard later that day and while only a couple of hundred attend, hundreds more are watching the events unfold as they walk between classes. During an attempt to disperse the students, one section of the Guard suddenly opens fire and kills 4 students, (including two just walking to class) and wounding nine others. It would become one of the most iconic and darkest moments in American history.
Five years later the friends and families of the injured the deceased would attempt to get justice in an American courtroom.
During the lockdown of 2020 a group of actors from both America and the UK, brought to life an older screenplay from British writer Lance Nielsen, which covered events of the civil trial which followed the shootings in 1975, five years later. Performed live online and split into five parts, the story follows New York lawyer Joseph Kelner (Michael Lipman) who leads a group of lawyers, the families of the dead and injured against The Governor Ohio (Paul Carr) and a seemingly corrupt legal system led by Judge Young (Kenny O'Connor) which connives to thwart them at every turn. A whole plethora of actors play those who were there on the day, as well as those who are seeking to prosecute or defend them. Uber talent and indy film supporter Jason Flemyng even appears in the final episode. Stand out performances come from the four actors who narrate us through the story. Nadia Lamin (Allison Krause) Tom Patrick Coley (Jeff Miller) Amy Ginsburg (Sandra Scheuer) and Luke Hobson (Bill Schroeder) play the roles of the four students who died that day with emotional depth and passion in their performances. They guide us through each episode, in almost an ethereal state, looking on from afar as those they love endure abuse and anguish at the hands of those fired that day or were complicit in the cover up of the crime. Josie Ayres (Elaine Holstein) is especially affecting as the Mother of Jeff Miller, and some iffy accents aside, the rest of the cast all play their roles with conviction.
For a live online drama with practically a zero budget conceived by nothing more than passion and determination, this drama, with its limitations, really shouldn't work but it does, largely thanks to a well paced script and very committed performances from the cast of some forty actors. As the story draws you in, one soon forgets the limitations of 'background only sets' and the shocking facts of what went on in a US courtroom, make the drama compelling viewing.
The modern parallels with this story are many, not least of which is, this is a story of people murdered by those in uniform whose role should have been to protect them. It asks the question - when is humanity going to change it's narrative?
Much like its predecessor, 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' - 13 Seconds in Kent State covers a very important forgotten and shameful moment in history, which should no longer be tucked away. John Filo's photograph that captured the execution of a young man for doing nothing more than exercising his right to protest, was the George Floyd moment of the 1970s. This trial and all the drama that went with it, is extremely well explored in this, albeit limited, means of narrative. This might be effectively a radio play, performed live by one company of actors, covering all the roles, with a few extra bells and whistles but this only makes it all the more commendable and worthy of your time, especially if you have more than a passing interest in the period or the subject. Recommended.
