Gentle Mockingbird Soars

To Kill a Mockingbird
by Christopher Sergel
adapted from Harper Lee's novel
The Prodco @ The Lex Theatre
directed by T L Kolman
through February

Robert Mulligan's 1962 film of Harper Lee's magnificent novel To Kill a Mockingbird is for me one of the greatest black and white films ever made. Christopher Sergel adapted the novel to the stage in 1990, and the play respects Lee's keen vision of humanity and keeps intact the poetic beauty of her words. The Prodco's production @ The Lex, the first play in their new home, ardently resonates the timeless message of tolerance and friendship.

Composer Stephen Sondheim said it best when he wrote "Children Will Listen". Even in the remotest of places, they will be unavoidably affected by evil. In a small Southern town like Maycomb, Alabama as early as 1935 prejudice and inequality were in full bloom. It was difficult to protect the youngsters from the cruel cynicism and gossip of the townsfolk especially to shield Scout (Brighid Fleming) and Jem (L J Benet) from harm when their father lawyer Atticus Finch (James Horan), a pillar of honesty, defended a negro accused of raping a 19 year-old white girl. Finch fought a losing battle, and as hard as he tried to keep them safe, the children became the victims of the disease-like hatred that was decaying Maycomb. The children grew up fast and hard, but on the positive side they did learn to love thy neighbor as thyself.

T L Kolman and a stunning cast work wonders to bring Maycomb to realistic life on the small Lex stage. Horan is unquestionably sturdy as Finch and never misses a beat. He surely stands in difficult shoes, as does any actor, following the class act that was Gregory Peck. Horan stands tall, making Finch his own. Benet and Fleming, along with Patrick Fitzsimmons as Dill, give remarkably focused performances, particularly Benet, whose Jem grows closer to manhood by play's end. Ferrell Marshall as caring neighbor Maudie Atkinson serves as narrator of the play and is thoroughly forthright and likeable. Barbra Gruen, a consistently dandy character actress, as crabby Mrs. Dubose and nosy/snobbish Stephanie plays both women to the hilt. With a simple costume and hair change and hunched back/crippled walk, she creates an unforgettably spiteful Dubose. Skip Pipo is characteristically mean as Bob Ewell; Margaret Dwyer as daughter Mayella Ewell, intense, but just a tad overemotional; Lorenzo T. Hughes simply perfect as the suffering Tom Robinson. Kudos as well to Inda Craig-Galvin as wise Calpurnia, David Stifel as Walter Cunningham/Judge Taylor, Jim Hanna as earnest Heck Tate, and to Christopher Carver quite impressive in his transition from direct Mr. Gilmer to the off-center Boo Radley. A wonderfully talented ensemble!

August Viverito has done a splendid job in creating just the right period touches in costuming and designing the moderate set pieces that make Maycomb a believable world.

To Kill a Mockingbird is a loving production of which The Prodco can feel justifiably proud. The irresistible gentleness of Harper Lee's words reverberate loud and clear.