'INQUEST' REEXAMINES ROSENBERG SPY CASE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01365R000300110001-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 22, 2004
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 25, 1970
• Content Type: NSPR

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Approved For Release 2004/11/01: CIA- P88-01365F~Ot~3b'1~108l1?- I "
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NEW YORK 11 ~'~'T~N ia"a' 5 o c ? e t ? 1-1 Y .% e a
25APR1970 ?
By DOUGLAS WATT
(Reprinted from yesterday's late editions)
"Inquest," which came to the stage of the Music Box
last evening, is a disturbing document, as it was meant to
be. But I found this reexamination of the circumstances,
that led to the execution of the
Rosenbergs on June 19, 1953, for'
conspiring to commit espionage
disturbing in more ways than the
author obviously intended.
On the terms of the author,
V Donald Freed who has drawn his
material from "Invitation to an
Inquest," a book by Walter and
Miriam Schneir, it is disturbing
because it suggests not only that
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were
innocent of the charge but that
th 1 d d t 4.U h
'IN VEST'
Play by Donald Freed, produced
by Lee Guber and Shelly Gross',
at the Music Box, April 23, 1970.
THE PRINCIPALS
Ethel Rosenberg Anne Jackson
Julius Rosenberg George Grizzard
Emanuel Bloch James Whitmore
Irving Saypol Mason Adams
Roy Cohn Mike Bursten
Judge Kaufman Michael Lipton
David Greenglass .Jack Hollander
Harry Gold Phil Leeds
Ruth Greenglass - Hlldy Brooks
ey were rat roa e o e c air. stein and others are projected on
If the latter is true, then the the back wall along with appro-
International clamor generated priate quotations.
by the case, which occurred dur- A d th 1? 1 h
t
George Grizzard and Anne Jack
son (below) and James Whitmor
As the Rosenberg* and their
lawyer
n e VC peop a up
ere ?
ing an unfortunately hysterical are actors. M I c h a e I Lipton's a play which raises such import
period in our history, was justi- Judge Kaufman is a supercilious tant issues. Nevertheless, I found
Pied and so is any new scrutiny magistrate. Mason Adams' Irv- it often tiresome theater, on,
of the situation. ing Saypol is a bullying prosecut- which final term it must be
Me, the Jury - fng attorney and his assistant, judged, and guilty of nonobjective,
But consider my terms. A de- Mike Burstein 's Roy Cohn is-
vout believer in justice after the well, you all know Roy Cohn. reporting of its serious subject.
fact, I sit in,a darkened theater Likable Actors The theater can accommodate
where I, along with all others of But Anne Jackson and George almost any subject and one such
the audience, am assigned the Grizzard, the Ethel and Julius as this can be presented with
role of juror. Rosenberg, and James Whitmore, such force in no other place.
i Excerpts from the trial in the their attorney Emanuel Bloch, But whatever the kind of theater
U.S. District Court are performed are obviously lovable people.
for me, as well as "reconstruc- Whereas Jack Hollander's David being offered, ,from mindless
tions" of episodes outside the Greenglass is a big, shifty slob comedy to profound tragedy,
court, including; some scenes of and Phil Leeds' Harry Gold is a there is one inviolable rule: it
the Rosenbergs at home. ? At in- plain nut. And so it goes until we must be completely honest on Its
tervals, still photos a h o w i n g are finally presented with the ac-
Hiroshima victims, a smiling tual execution, the electric chair own terms.
President Eisenhower at golf or descreetly facing away from us "Inquest" is not and falls in.
accepting an honorary degree, a in Alan Schneider's generally able escapably- into the category of
ugnacious'- looking J.. Edgar direction. ` the propaganda play, thus d-.
iwve a saintl Iookin in? One oesn't,. dare be', bored ?,b ineanin Its, subject.' --
Approved For Release 2004/11/01: CIA-RIDP88-01365R000300110001-4