AUBURN – For attorney Nick Worden, it was an opportunity to go where lawyers never go.

Here, less than a mile from the courthouse where he works, two men he’d never met called witnesses, objected and were overruled.

Meanwhile, Worden, an assistant district attorney for Androscoggin County, sat in the jury box, listened to the arguments and kept quiet. He wasn’t alone. Of the 12 men who made up this jury Monday, most were lawyers.

They were cast, rather than selected, to hear this case.

They will play the jury when the Community Little Theatre begins its production Friday of the courtroom drama, “Inherit the Wind.”

It’s a bit of novelty dreamed up by the theater’s publicist, Rachel Morin.

In November, she sent out fake jury summonses to 200 area lawyers. The wording and overall appearance of each was copied from the real jury forms sent out by the Androscoggin County Superior Court.

Reversing roles

Each began with the words:

“You are hereby notified that you have been drawn to serve as a Juror in the Inherit the Wind’ Superior Court.”

It also carried a warning.

“According to CLT law, failure to appear or complete theater jury service may constitute contempt of your creative theatrical experience,” read the summons. It was signed by the play’s director, Richard Martin.

Attorney Jim Pross, who joined the Lewiston firm of Gosselin, Dubord & Rabasco last summer, was among those who received the invitation.

It might be fun, he figured. After all, he’d learned of the play in law school. It is based on the famous Scopes monkey trial, in which a Tennessee teacher was charged with a crime for teaching evolution.

For Worden, who must often choose juries, it seemed a nice bit of role reversal.

“This is our one shot at being jurors,” he said.

Not all of the jurors are played by lawyers, however.

They will be joined by at least one real estate agent and a pair of local politicians. Lewiston and Auburn Mayors Lionel and Normand Guay will play jurors during performances this weekend.

“I feel it’s my civic duty,” Normand Guay joked. “I’ll try to remember all my lines.”

Of course, these jurors have none.

They do have responsibilities, though.

String ties required

As the actors ran through the play Monday, the prospective jurors ran through their duties. They must dress for the period, they learned: white shirts, string ties and drab suspenders. At the appropriate moments, they must take their seats in stiff wooden chairs.

That’s about it. Mostly, their job is to be an onstage, in-costume audience. They have the best seats in the house.

As lead actors Bruce Gerry and Ron Veno rehearsed the play’s signature debates on Monday, Worden and the others watched from a few feet away.

The real prosecutor said he was impressed by the whole cast, who would compare to any of the area’s professional actors.

“I am completely in awe of the quality of their work,” Worden said.

Go and do

What: “Inherit the Wind”

When: 8 p.m. Jan. 7, 8, 14 and 15

Matinees: 2 p.m. Jan. 9 and 16

Where: Great Falls School building, Auburn

Tickets: $15 and $13

Box office: 783-0958

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