Bold Storytelling
Karl Eigsti’s set design for Inquest (1970), a play by Donald Freed, reflected the stark and intense atmosphere of the courtroom drama surrounding the infamous trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Eigsti’s minimalist yet evocative design created a confined, almost claustrophobic space that amplified the play’s tension and moral ambiguity. Through strategic lighting and austere structures, Eigsti highlighted the isolation of the accused and the oppressive nature of the judicial proceedings. His design underscored the play’s themes of justice, paranoia, and the human cost of Cold War hysteria, offering a visual counterpart to its powerful dialogue and emotional weight.