When he was cast as a condemned, then freed, man in the play "The Exonerated," David Brown Jr. felt pretty lucky.
The play was a hit, the cast was stellar and the 32-year-old native of Dixiana had found a director willing to take a risk on an inexperienced actor from South Carolina.
During the show's long run in New York, Brown got to work alongside several big-name actors, including Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Richard Dreyfuss and Jill Clayburgh. Brown and four other actors anchored the show while stars came in for guest gigs ranging from a few days to a few weeks.
The New York Times and Time magazine picked the frequently sold-out "The Exonerated" as one of the top plays of 2002. The play then did a national run in late 2003 and early 2004.
Director Bob Balaban gave Brown another shot at the bright lights with the television version of the play, airing Thursday on Court TV. Brown is the only regular cast member of the play who also got the TV gig. Playing the other "exonerated" in the film version are Brian Dennehy, Danny Glover, Susan Sarandon, Delroy Lindo and Aidan Quinn.
He's still amazed that he was kept on for the television version. "I was talking to the head of Court TV and Bob Balaban pushed for me," he said. "Court TV wanted a name. I was so lucky (Balaban) was for me." "I think he sees my hunger and energy."
Jessica Blank, who wrote the play with Eric Jensen, said she's happy Brown landed the film role. "He really deserves it. David had been with the play from the start and was involved in workshop before it opened in New York," Blank said. The play and movie examine cases in which six people were sentenced to die. Poor legal representation, prosecutorial misconduct, DNA evidence or witnesses who recanted led to their exoneration. Both in the play and the movie, there's little dramatization, just the accused telling what happened in court, in the death house and in newfound freedom. The actors mostly sit or stand in one place speaking to the camera. The play is based entirely on interviews with the accused and trial transcripts.
Brown portrays Robert Earl Hayes, a horse groomer accused of raping and murdering a woman in 1990. He was later cleared by DNA evidence. Hayes has been back in jail since late 2003, convicted in a similar case. The other cases include a woman, played by Sarandon, who was sentenced to death along with her husband. The real killer confessed, but her husband had already been executed.
Glover plays a man who was sentenced to death at 18. The man Quinn portrays spent 22 years on death row. On a recent afternoon at his apartment in Washington Heights, a New York neighborhood north of Harlem, Brown was his usual manic self. He ducked into a local store to buy a beer, then settled, very briefly on the couch.
Then he was up again to show a video he'd shot while on a national tour with "The Exonerated." In each city, from Miami to Seattle, they'd hook up with name actors and do the show. In Texas, the guest stars were the unlikely pair of Kathleen Turner and singer/actor Lyle Lovett. Brown taped Turner waiting in a television station lobby to do an interview and filmed Lovett in the dressing room.
The tape inspired Brown to jump up and put on Lovett's 1987 recording "Pontiac." Along with filming his co-stars, the indefatigable Brown also hit the streets during the tour to talk to people and found some of the best conversations in barbershops.
But the filming process for Court TV had none of the interaction Brown enjoyed on the road and onstage. Each actor came in and did their sections separately. "There's no audience and no one else there. I had to play to a pole with a pink X on it," Brown said.
Since "The Exonerated" tour ended, acting jobs have been scarce. Brown did a little part in "Law & Order" and was offered a theater role in St. Louis, but his agent told him he couldn't afford to take it. "I'm sure more will come of having this (Court TV) part," said Brown, "but you know, nothing's guaranteed."
Earlier this month, Brown flew to Los Angeles for a press screening of the movie. He still takes great delight in such perks, along with dressing rooms with his name on the door. "We're staying at the Four Seasons in L.A. -the Four Seasons," he said a few weeks ago. "I'm usually cleaning places like the Four Seasons." And that's what real life for a real actor is like. "I'm making a living and paying the rent," Brown said. "Still catering and still scrubbing toilets. "When I make those circles," he said while bending as if brushing out a commode, "I think those are the zeros on my future paychecks. That toilet's my magic lamp."
"The Exonerated" is being performed at two area theaters. Charlotte Repertory Theatre performs the play Feb. 4-20. Contact the theater at charlotterep.org or call (704) 372-1000. Centre Stage in Greenville does the play Feb. 10-20. Contact the theater at (877) 377- 1339 or centrestage.org.
"The Exonerated" airs Jan. 27 on Court TV. It can be seen locally on Time-Warner cable channel 38.
David Brown Jr. plays Robert Earl Hodge, who was imprisoned from 1990 to 1997/
Danny Glover plays David KEaton, who was imprisoned from 1970 to 1979.
Brian Dennehy plays Gary Gauger, who was imprisoned from 1993 to 1996.
Delroy Lindo plays Delbert Tibbs, who was imprisoned from 1974 to 1977.
Aidan Quinn plays Kerry Max Cook, who was imprisoned from 1974 to 1977.
Susan Sarandon plays Sunny Jacobs, who was imprisoned from 1976 to 1992.
PHOTO: COLOR 1. David Brown Jr. 2. Danny Glover 3. Brian Dennehy 4. Delroy Lindo 5. Aidan Quinn 6. Susan Sarandon Memo: "David Brown Jr." and "Tune In" info boxes at end of articleEdition: FINALSection: LIFE & ARTSPage: E1 Index Terms: SC ENTERTAINER MOVIERecord Number: 0501210338Copyright (c) 2005 The State