Are some people just born evil? Here's a 9-year-old `Bad Seed'.

Byline: Fred Crafts The Register-Guard

A young woman whose inherited evil "causes" many people to die absolutely fascinates Jesse Lally.

"She's a murderous, conniving young lady who will do anything it takes to get what she wants and does not have any conscience," says Lally, who directs the Cottage Theatre production of "The Bad Seed."

OPENING THIS WEEK

The person he is describing - the one who shoved an elderly woman down a flight of stairs, the one who hit a kid over the head and tossed his body into the river - is 9 years old.

"This girl is inherently bad. She's a bad seed," Lally says, explaining the meaning behind the play's title. The girl, Rhoda, comes from a bad family. Her relatives are first-rate losers.

"The play is based on the premise that crime is genetic and that criminal tendencies are passed from one generation to another, which is a very debatable subject," Lally says.

But, he adds, it gives the audience a plausible hook to grab onto to understand why Rhoda is in such a mess.

"I think it would have been much better if she was just a normal kid and the play really didn't have an explanation," he says. "It's something they put in there at the end of the play to make it all work."

Maxwell Anderson's drama was adapted by John Lee Mahin for the 1956 motion picture starring Patty (Duke) McCormack, who had played the role on Broadway.

It was remade for TV in 1985, with McCormack playing an older bad seed in "Mommy."

The play is one of Lally's favorites.

"It's very intelligently written," he says. "It makes you wonder what's around the next bend, and it makes you sit on the edge of your seat and ponder over these things. The events are a bit melodramatic, but it rings true today when you have so much violence in society."

Playing Rhoda Penmark will be Helene Morse, who worked with Lally in his production of "Happy Birthday, Wanda June" at Actors Cabaret of Eugene this past fall. "She's going to make the audience squirm a bit," he predicts.

The cast also includes Katie McClatchey, Becky Croson-LaChapelle, Allison McClatchey, Melissa Walther, Rick Lloyd, Matt Bonham, Steve Mandell, Bob Glasser, Rory Pattison and George Morse.

Lally, who is making his directorial debut at Cottage Theatre, also designed the sets and lighting.

Although several murders are committed during the course of the play, all occur off stage.

Lally calls it "a very severe play but also very thrilling and entertaining."

Reach Fred Crafts at 338-2575 or [e-mail].

PLAY PREVIEW

The Bad Seed

When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Jan. 30-31 and Feb. 6-7; matinees at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 25 and Feb. 1

Where: Cottage Theatre, 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove 

How much: $8, $10 and $11 through the box office (541-942-9195, 541-942-8001) or $12 at door

CAPTION(S):

Matt Bonham, who plays Leroy, threatens Helene Morse's character Rhoda, the title role of ``The Bad Seed.'' The play is about a young girl who seems to have been destined for a life of violence.