‘Informed Consent’ at Horizon Theatre
Neal A. Ghant and Bethany Anne Lind
“Informed Consent” at Horizon Theatre is a well-acted production of an interesting play. Although similar to “Proof” and “Doubt,” in that the question of who is right and who is wrong is left open to each individual to decide, the premise is different, as it revolves around Native Americans and a power-hungry researcher who just wants to do good.
Jillian (Bethany Anne Lind) is a genetic anthropologist on a mission to discover migrating patterns of people and ethnic groups, and to prove that all mankind comes from one source, so that there really is no such thing as “race.” Recently diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, Jillian is caught up in another type of race, a race against time to do her work and prove her theory. When she obtains permission to do one health test, she conducts other genetic tests as well, destroying the whole story one group of peoples has been handing down for centuries. The play is based on the true story of a Native American tribe that sued a university when it conducted tests that the tribe had not approved.
It’s a dramatic show with a wonderful cast. Her husband, Graham (Neal A. Ghant), loves and reprimands Jillian with passion, and Dean Hagan (Tonia Jackson) is a force to reckon with when the university where Jillian works is threatened with a lawsuit.
Written by Deborah Zoe Laufer, directed by Lisa Adler, “Informed Consent” runs through Nov. 8 at Horizon Theatre Company.
Cast:
Arella . . . . Diany Rodriguez
Ken . . . . . . Carey Curtis Smith
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