To Kill A Mockingbird

At the Shubert Theatre, 2020

I know it’s a classic, but it never was a favorite book of mine. So I was skeptical going in to see this.

Honestly the first act was noticeably long & tedious, with attempted humor thrown in. They added music to assist the long scene transitions, but it did not help at all.

I was wary of Ed Harris as Atticus, & wasn’t sure if he was able to become the champion of a character Atticus is. In all of act one he felt lacking.

Then Act Two came. The trial was underway & Kyle Scatliffe gave a tremendous testimony as Tom Robinson. It brought him to tears, & I was finally swept up. Then, Ed Harris performed what is possibly the greatest monologue I have ever heard, when he gave his final address to the court. Even the silences were profound. I cried throughout the end of the trial & past the reveal of Tom’s death (quite a while later!)

Ed Harris was the perfect Atticus after all. But I must also acknowledge the powerhouse rival performance of Neal Huff gave as Bob Ewell. I absolutely hated him throughout, but I must not fail to applaud him as an actor. That is not a pretty role. In fact, that is a role I do not envy anyone taking on. For him to build so strong of a character that is trapped in a mindset of hatred, racism, & disregard for all human decency—including that of his family... that is an odyssey of a journey for Neal to make each night in order to truly capture the essence of such a villain & make it convincing.

This show redeemed itself & then some, by the end. And what is so heartbreaking is the strong relevance it has to today’s society.

Calpurnia, played by Rosalyn Coleman, kept speaking incredible truths; some were met with laughs, callbacks, or tears. Calpurnia visibly wept, & we wept along with her. She showed us that not every action has to be a lesson. Things don’t always call for a profound response. That sometimes you have to let things be what they are. And most importantly, *that by not taking a side (no matter how noble your intent may be) you are taking a side.*

I’m still processing a lot. In short, the play hit me & moved me in ways the book could not. I highly recommend it. And if you want a heartfelt yet profound slap in the face, here it is.