I have to admit, I was fearful of a stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill A Mockingbird.’ As a teacher who made sure students were aware of rich literature, ‘Mockingbird‘ stands alone. Aaron Sorkin‘s play strikes every chord, and keeps the pace perfectly throughout. It’s raw, it’s uncomfortable and it’s powerful!
From the outset, the stage is deep and dark…invoking the South of the past. Large stage pieces, choreographed in their movements as we glide through the story, bring to mind the expansive porches, imposing courtrooms, and live oaks hanging eerily in the background. The mood is quiet and curious. As the actors make their initial entrance, you recognize the characters….Scout, Tom, Atticus….and each is as you pictured them when you read the novel. Perfectly cast are Richard Thomas (Atticus), who gets a rousing applause as he sets foot on the stage…(Yes, It’s John Boy from the ‘Waltons’)….Melanie Moore (the endearing Scout)….Yaegel Welch (the heartbreaking Tom)….and a crowd favorite Jacqueline Welch (the soul-filled Calpurnia.) There is NOT ONE….I repeat, NOT ONE character that isn’t played to the ‘t’ by this cast. Each as believable as the next.
And it goes beyond sets and actors. ‘Mockingbird‘ is tough….it’s agonizing. Faced with unfairness, prejudice and injustice, the audience has to endure the inevitable. We have to take a look inside ourselves and see who we are, by seeing who they are. Us! From the injured parties…Mayella (Mariah Lee), Link Deas (Greg Wood)…to those attempting to make wrongs right…..Judge Taylor (Jeff Still), Jem Finch (Stephen Cefalu, Jr.)…we see ourselves. Many times….not liking what we see. What this play does is bring us together to realize our world, even today, needs people to say ‘enough!’ It reminds us that when one of us is wronged, all of us are wronged. And REMARKABLY it does it with humor and gentleness.
It’s the audience that becomes that litmus for this production. Gasps, tears, laughs and rousing applause say it all. There is hope in all things. We are reminded that the world we live in can be evil. But through the eyes of our 3 young heroes, we find a way to look to a future of ‘being better.’ It’s not right to ‘Kill a Mockingbird…’ you know the line. But, as you leave this beautifully atmospheric production you get Why! It sticks….and you exit the theatre thinking of how you can make a difference in this unjust world.
SEE THIS SHOW…..IT MATTERS!
Info: Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill A Mockingbird.’
Tickets@ Dayton Live
October 17-22 at The Schuster Center.
