To Kill a Mockingbird Review

A2CT's 'Mockingbird' flies, with a few hiccups

Friday, December 3, 2010
By Jenn McKee - Entertainment Journalist, AnnArbor.com

Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” — the stage adaptation of which (by Christopher Sergel) is now being presented by Ann Arbor Civic Theatre — celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion, many have recently revisited the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, as well as the landmark, Oscar-winning 1962 film adaptation.

I’ve done both, and one of the interesting things about the experience was realizing how my strongest association with the book was the Boo Radley story, which takes place within the children’s sphere; and my strongest association with the film was the court case, which is an event that happens in the adults’ world. Sergel’s stage version of “Mockingbird” is cut from the same cloth as the film, though it marginalizes the Boo Radley story even further into the backdrop.

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For this reason and others — Miss Maudie’s narration feels jarring and clumsy at times; and while the first act often ends just as a play’s story takes an important turn, Sergel makes the break in a self-conscious and dramatically odd moment — Sergel’s script provides a less satisfying experience of Lee’s classic story. But as luck would have it, many of the strongest elements of director Debra Reichard’s two-hour production are in sync with what Sergel chooses to highlight.

“Mockingbird,” of course, takes place in Alabama in 1935, and focuses on a single-father attorney, Atticus Finch (Marc Holland), and his two children, Scout (Talia Akiva) and Jem (Eli Tell). While the children are fascinated with Boo Radley (Ben Blaesing), the darkly mysterious neighbor who seemingly hasn’t left his house in years, Atticus is called on to defend a black man named Tom Robinson (Charlie Newhart), who’s accused of raping a poor, local white woman (Christine Koch).

Though it’s tough to step outside the long shadow cast by Gregory Peck — whom we collectively consider to be the definitive Atticus Finch, thanks to his Oscar-winning film performance — Holland is a wonderfully dry and low-key Atticus, delivering lines like, “You children certainly don’t mind very well,” with affectionate, amused resignation. His Atticus is a man who simultaneously strives to spread compassion and understanding while also seeing and accepting the world as it is, flaws and all.

In supporting roles, Jon Elliott does some really good work as Sheriff Heck Tate; Newhart is stolid and sincere as Tom, and gets a chance to shine during that character’s testimony; and Steven Stenman plays the weathered but firm Judge Taylor well.

And while Sean Sabo plays the story’s villain (Bob Ewell) with zeal, he looks too young (and put-together, honestly) for the role. The character is supposed to be a darkly threatening, creepy guy who exists on the periphery of town and humanity — someone we’d prefer not to see or look at, given the choice; but in A2CT’s production, Ewell merely comes off as a mean liar who’s, well, actually kind of handsome.

Also, Reichard has a couple of significant set changes take place while dialogue’s being spoken in another part of the stage, which makes it hard to focus on what’s being said in those moments. Yet the goal is fluidity, which the production generally achieves.

Additionally, Rita Gerardi’s lighting design is thoughtful and affecting, and Andy Seiler’s set — while inevitably looking a little cramped while squeezing in Miss Maudie and Mrs. Dubose’s “houses,” as well as Boo Radley’s and Atticus’ — serves the production well.

So despite some issues with Sergel’s stage adaptation (the only one Lee has allowed) as well as with A2CT’s production, those who love the classic story will probably find much to embrace in the play.

To harp on shortcomings would be like killing a mockingbird — which is a sin, from what I understand.

Note: All performances of "To Kill a Mockingbird" are now sold out.

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.