Curtains open for Moody play
HUNTER DWORACZYK
GEORGETOWN — Williamson County residents hoping to receive a glimpse into the past have an opportunity to do so the next few weekends.
The Georgetown Palace will perform “You Can’t Do That, Dan Moody,” a historical play involving the former Texas governor and Taylor resident Dan Moody. The performance will take place in the 26th District Courtroom, the exact setting where the play’s events happened 100 years ago.
“We had a preview show Thursday, and then our regular shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon,” said Tom Swift, playwright and director. “The first four shows have gone splendidly. The audiences have been really, really responsive.”
The play is a reenactment of a trial that took place in 1923 which was the country’s first successful prosecution of the Ku Klux Klan. Moody was the district attorney for the county at the time of the trial and was the prosecutor for this case.
The trial resulted in four Klansmen being sent to prison for violence against a white traveling salesman.
Swift’s rendition of the events stemmed from former district attorney Ken Anderson’s book of the same title. Swift said this is the eighth time the play has been performed by the Palace.
While Moody’s success in the trial is wellknown and already a big part of the area’s history, Swift said audience members still have an impactful experience when they attend the reenactment.
“They have said this is such an important play for right now,” Swift said. “Everybody sees this play, connects to where we are right now in this country regarding some of these issues. We need to keep reminding ourselves that it takes courage to be an honorable society.”
Since actors play multiple parts due to a limited number of actors, they had to adapt. Play organizers did not feel it was fair to make their amateur actors memorize a large number of lines, so they are performing it as a hybrid stage reading.
Each actor and actress has their script with them while they perform.
“It’s very clear when they change characters,” Swift said. “I was a little concerned about whether that would work or not and if the audience would get that or not. They ate that up with a spoon.”
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., unless ticket sales demand extra performances. The show officially began Friday, Sept. 29 and runs until Sunday, Oct. 15.
Tickets can be purchased on the Palace’s website.
