Mockingbird adaptation takes flight at PAC as Broadway hits Wisco

“All Rise.” The opening line, fittingly, summoned the main curtain to rise into the rafters of the PAC. The stage, featuring backdrops straight out of an old warehouse, was bare except for the presence of three characters: siblings Jean Louise “Scout” and Jeremy “Jem” Finch, and their dear friend Charles Baker “Dill” Harris. Their opening monologues were projected to the crowd and soon the old warehouse became a courtroom. With revisions specific to the stage,the beloved novel To Kill A Mockingbird took center stage at the prestigious Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton as part of the Broadway Across America series.

Taking place in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s, Atticus Finch, a local lawyer, is challenged to take on a monumental case: the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man who is paralyzed in one arm. Tom has been falsely accused of raping the young Mayella Ewell and, because of the racist notions of the south during this time, the town turns against both Tom and Atticus. While this trial is going on, Scout and her brother Jem try figuring out the secret of their mysterious neighbor, Arthur “Boo” Radley, who was known to have been a part of a gang and later stabbed his father in the leg with a pair of scissors. However, Atticus constantly teaches the kids about empathy and justice, especially as the trial goes on and the town turns against their family. The story stands as a coming-of-age story for the young Scout, but also as a darker drama on the impact of racism and prejudice in a community, proving that evil and good often coexist within a community.

Squeezed between the TikTok-famous Six: The Musical and Broadway’s notorious Cats, the trial of Mockingbird took flight February 21 to 26. Translated for the stage by Aaron Sorkin, the adaptation comes 60 years after the classic 1962 film was released. Sorkin pivots by featuring Atticus as the clear protagonist; his children Scout and Jem serve as narrators but also become side characters.

This switch, however, does not change the plot of the play. The stage perfectly adapts to the trial of Tom Robinson, while Scout and Jem explore the world and discover who they are as individuals (with the help of Dill, of course). But what makes the story complete is the setting, and Mockingbird succeeds with that; the courtroom was decorated with the attorney’s table, the jury, and, most importantly, the witness standing or sitting in the middle of it all. While most of the play centers around this trial, the scenes change right before pivotal moments occur in the courtroom, instead taking the intensity of the situation to the iconic porch of the Finch home, with branches of a grand oak tree hanging from the rafters of the stage.

Of course, a play isn’t complete without actors bringing the magic of storytelling to life, and Mockingbird’s cast is star-studded, filled with professional Broadway actors mixed with players who have made their way into pop culture from the influence of tv shows or movies. The role of Atticus was portrayed by Richard Thomas, most famously known to play the role of John-Boy Walton in the 70’s show, The Waltons. Melanie Moore, the actress for Scout Finch, competed and won the eighth season of So You Think You Can Dance?. One of the most stunning, and nostalgic, cast members is Mary Badham, who played the mean old Mrs. Henry Dubose. Badham notably played Scout Finch in the 1962 movie. This cast of talented actors managed to put together an excellent show.

Mockingbird succeeds in moving the audience, capturing the darker commentary of reality while bringing in comedy from the kids to lighten up the mood when necessary. Although sharing the same warehouse-esque backdrop, the scenes manage to find their own spark, coming alive and feeling authentic with the help of talented actors. Due to the nature of this play, Scout, Jem, and Dill were portrayed by adults, but their actors were able to successfully capture the youthful energy of these characters. Nevertheless, the performance provided an excellent adaptation of the original story that captured the hearts of many. Full of love and passion, the tale vividly illustrates the consequences of evil in a community as Atticus reminds viewers that “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

A+ -- The emotion, the wisdom, the tension, and the passion all resonate within the cast of To Kill A Mockingbird. The play perfectly captures the original story, all while reminding the audience that the issues Mockingbird faced are still present today.

by Ruby Pluchinsky

Published March 17, 2023

Oshkosh West Index Volume 119 Issue VI