Becoming Justice Blackmun by Linda Greenhouse

The two men then illustrate how lifelong familiarity, small resentments and smug assumptions can create a sinkhole beneath friendship.ĭirector Joel Sass’s production glides efficiently when it needs to, but keenly zeroes in on the emotional moments from which this human saga is drawn. Blessing places him in the great beyond, where he has sought reconciliation with Burger. Blessing based the play on “Becoming Justice Blackmun,” Linda Greenhouse’s book about the jurist’s papers. “Courting Harry” opened last weekend with actors Clyde Lund (Blackmun) and Nathaniel Fuller (Burger) parrying on the History Theatre stage in St. It is excellent drama, rich history and illuminating psychology - just what theater should be.

In 90 minutes, Blessing sketches the rough biographical contours of each man, discusses politics and constitutional law and delves into the voluminous lifelong correspondence between Burger and Blackmun. Playwright Lee Blessing provides lots of evidence for each man in his superb new play “Courting Harry,” but he refuses to tidy up this messy relationship and leaves us with broken hearts and sympathy for two of Minnesota’s most-famous jurists. Paul turn into bitter foes at the end of their long lives? Whose fault was the rift between Harry Blackmun and Warren Burger? Why did two boys who became fast friends in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood of St. Both parties argue their evidence vociferously and then throw themselves on the mercy of the court (us, in the audience).

Becoming Justice Blackmun by Linda Greenhouse