TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Previews- Page 5

[billyelliotfan123]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 12:05pm

The design is very simple. Moving platforms and chairs, all mostly pushed on and off by actors. The scene changes into the court segments are clunky because none of the court scenery is automated. I thought the set was very effective but nothing ground breaking. It also doesn't feel minimalist and fills the stage very well. 

The music served the piece very well. Nothing really to write home about though. They have 2 musicians on stage playing the music the entire show off to the side. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 12:16pm

Dows this designer just not like automation? Or is it a Sher thing? He didn’t use it in Bridges, My Fair Lady, Fiddler, etc. and always thought the transitions were so messy and clunky.

[MarilynMonroeSmash]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 12:19pm

perfectliar said: "You could help yourself by not reading comments on the previews if you don't want to know anything."

No, I prefer to read preview reviews to see how a show is doing. Writing a review does not entail spoilers. I enjoy knowing people's opinions and thoughts. But when people start their review by breaking down everything that was changed in an adaption, I find annoying. Comment on what you like or don't like, but when you big to discuss something major that you took personal dislike against or enjoyment from let people know. It's a first preview, you are one of the only people who has seen the show. And I never said I don't want to know anything; I said I don't want to know major changes. Two different things.

 

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 12:23pm

The designer is Mirium Buether, who I think is incredible and has used automation in the past. It sounds like more of a Sher thing.

[mikey2573]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 12:31pm

Parade3:  I am wondering what you thought of the previous stage adaptation of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Christopher Sergel.  That one has been around for decades and has been produced frequently in regional production, but never on Broadway. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 12:34pm

GeorgeandDot said: "The designer is Mirium Buether, who I think is incredible and has used automation in the past. It sounds like more of a Sher thing."

Yeah, I would definitely think the lack of automation is a Sher thing as well. His previous productions have all used very little (if any) automation.

[inception]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 2:47pm

I don't believe Harper Lee had anything to do with selling the rights to her novel.  It is generally thought that the woman who has the rights to her work tricked Ms Lee into signing everything over to her when she was no longer capable of making proper decisions for herself.  There were quite a few news articles about this when the Watchman novel was released.  

Kelly Flynt said: "Not so fast. An adaptation is meant to make some more suitable for a situation such as adapting a novel into a staged production. However, that doesn't give license to reinvent or substantially change the characters or the narrative. When Ms. Lee sold the rights for Sorkin to right a new adaptation she did so with stipulations. He broke the rules, and got sued. The settlement is closed. People who pay to see To Kill a Mockingbird have every right to expect that they will see To Kill A Mockingbird. I plan to see this production, but I'm bracing myself for something that is not the Mockingbird that I love."

 

[Kelly Flynt]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 7:21pm

Well I base my information on more than the few articles that were posted about. My father-in-law gave Lee's eulogy, and the only photo published from the funeral - that's my brother-in-law and nephew in the photo at her grave. My daughter is named Harper. Ms. Lee and her sisters, Alice and Louise, were close friends of my husband's parents. The book and its heritage have been a driving force in my life. Go Set a Watchman was published with Lee's permission which was explicit that it not be altered in any way. She did not want someone else coming along and editing or changing it even though she knew it was just a first draft. She always protected her characters. She attempted to do so when she granted the license for the new stage adaptation. Sorkin and company did not live up to the agreement and were sued. Money eventually won, but I believe that is because the first draft of the new stage adaptation was not delivered until after Nelle died. No one close to her believes she would have allowed the the current production to continue in its current form. She did allow for adaptations, but never anything that changed the essence of a character. This what bothers me - the hubris of Sorkin to believe he knows the characters better. If he wanted to stage Atticus as he appears in Go Set a Watchman, he could have requested permission to adapt that, but he didn't. He wants the notoriety of TKAM while presenting something that is more GSW. 

[KKeller6]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 7:54pm

The lack of automation could very well be an idea to keep costs down. 

[JBC3]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 10:11pm

Less advocating that Sorkin is evil; more discussing what is actually happening on stage please.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/3/18 at 11:06pm

Or, he felt after reading it, that he needed to take the original work into consideration.

[BroadwayBeebe]

Posted: 11/4/18 at 12:00am

I really enjoyed this evening’s performance! I thought it was an excellent production with great performances and really enjoyed the versatility of what he did with the adaptation. That said I don’t recall Mockingbird as well as I should, so Ican’t speak to a purist view. The adults playing kids worked for me. Jeff Daniels leads a uniformly terrific company.

For those interested in Rush I went at 6:30 tonight and got two $49 rear side orchestra seats. They were perfect and I felt the price was reasonable.

For those interested in Stage Door, within 15 minutes of the show coming down all the major plays had come out and worked their way down the barricade with the exception of Jackson who was escorted to her car waiting. Daniels, Keenan-Bolger, Glick, Sands, and Matthews were all super kind, but we were informed no selfies ahead of time by the guard.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/4/18 at 1:07am

I just assumed it was Michael Y (can’t think of his last name) that usually designs for Sher. Interesting. As he likes an epic scale, so why not use automation? He did Piazza? That had elevators and automation.

[The Pecan Sandies]

Posted: 11/4/18 at 1:14am

Saw the show tonight and thought it was spectacular. I’ve read the novel several times and the film is one of my favorites so I was cautiously optimistic going in but I felt that Sorkin did a great job with the adaptation.

Daniels has big shoes to fill following Peck’s iconic performance but he more than holds his own as Atticus. The children being played by adults didn’t bother me in the slightest and I think Gideon Glick is delivering a standout performance as Dill. In my opinion I don’t think children would have been able to deliver strong enough performers in these roles. The rest of the cast are also delivering solid performances

Overall if you are on the fence about seeing the show, I highly recommend giving it a chance as I found it to be a phenomal night of theatre

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 11/4/18 at 1:46am

The $49 tickets in orchestra are a steal!

You can include me on the non purist side of the novel. And that’s a great night of theater.

This cast is absolutely perfection. Daniels leads with such power and presence, and he also modulates his Atticus in a way that is more than anything, believable.

I have to say that the three adults playing children didn’t bother me at all, I was actually thinking how much of a child was Celia. She was downright perfect as scout. Gideon too.

Almost any supporting character gets a moment to shine, from the drunker to Mayelle. All around great performances.

Sher’s direction is affirmative and really crafted, as It is the entire production. It’s a massive production as a whole and it’s already finished.

It’s gripping, powerful and totally relevant to these days. Another really incredible night at the theater.

[MaddieBB12]

Posted: 11/4/18 at 12:13pm

BroadwayBeebe said: "For those interested in Rush I went at 6:30 tonight and got two $49 rear side orchestra seats. They were perfect and I felt the price was reasonable."

Has anyone else done rush? I am hoping to go on Thursday, 11/8 and was thinking of getting there around 9:30am... should I aim for earlier?

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 11/4/18 at 1:09pm

Got Orch Seat rush at 10:15am

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 11/4/18 at 1:14pm

Where was the seat exactly, if you don't mind me asking?

[two ladies tickets]

Posted: 11/4/18 at 1:51pm

I saw this yesterday, it was fine, not amazing. Typical Sorkin masturbation. There is a phenomenal production of TKAM currently playing at the Stratford Festival up in Ontario. I believe it closes next week. If you’ve seen that production you can skip this Broadway version. The Stratford production uses a flashback technique with an adult Scout watching the events unfold, which was actually approved by Lee’s estate.

Updated On: 11/4/18 at 01:51 PM

[two ladies tickets]

Posted: 11/4/18 at 1:51pm

Double Post. 

Updated On: 11/4/18 at 01:51 PM

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 11/4/18 at 7:36pm

GeorgeandDot said: "Where was the seat exactly, if you don't mind me asking?"

D13, Ask for this seat.

 

you can see most the depositions exactly between the spaces, so the man accused and the girl accuser were right in my front space.

also it’s close to the stage and aside from Latanya’s first scene, didn’t feel like I lost anything.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 11/6/18 at 12:35pm

Is the stage high for this production?

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 11/6/18 at 1:00pm

LimelightMike said: "Is the stage high for this production?"

It looks quite low in Instagram pics.

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/6/18 at 1:11pm

Parade3 said: "No merchandise. Thank God. I would have bought it as I walked in and trashed it on my way out."

Yeah, that'll show them!

[petewk87]

Posted: 11/6/18 at 5:16pm

How was the last row of rear mezz for this show? That seems to be the only option for LincTix - thanks!