Theatre Review: “To Kill A Mockingbird” Is An Example Of Brilliance With Exceptional Talent & Dedicated Production Staff

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More than fifty years ago, Harper Lee had the kind of success that most writers only dream about: Shortly after her novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” was published on July 11, 1960, it hit the best-seller lists. In 1961, it won a Pulitzer Prize, in 1962 it was made into an Academy Award-winning film, and finally in 1990, Christopher Sergel adapted it into a play. It has never gone out of print or been far from a stage since.

Lee stepped out of the limelight and stopped doing interviews years ago — and she never wrote another book. Still, her influence has far outlasted most writers of her generation.

For Junior High and High-schoolers reading “To Kill A Mockingbird” today, America is a very different place than it was when Lee wrote her novel 56 years ago. Lee’s story of Scout Finch and her father, Atticus — a small-town Southern lawyer who defends a black man unjustly accused of rape — came out just as the nation was fighting over school desegregation. When “To Kill A Mockingbird” was topping best seller lists in the 1960s, protesters were organizing sit-ins at whites-only lunch counters across the South. The civil rights movement was well under way. Yet less than 40 years ago, the book was often banned in schools. My sister-in-law had to sneak a copy of the book because it was banned at her parochial school in Fort Worth, TX.

The Firehouse Theatre in Dallas revisits Maycolm, Alabama in their currently running – or should I say run-away – production of perfection. Director Tyler Jeffery Adams was very pleased when offered the chance to do this show. He enjoys history and mentions in the show’s program Note From The Director section, “‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ is a classic choice and popular story. I think there are endless things to take away from ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’; that is part of its marvel. But perhaps it’s relevant today more than ever. Maybe we don’t walk down the street spouting off the “N” word like they do in 1935 Maycomb, Alabama, but the hate is still here. My hope is that we can make efforts to look at the world through the eyes of the character of Scout. To see through the eyes of a child.”

As the show opens, it’s 1935, and racial tensions are high in Maycomb, Alabama. Nonetheless, young Jean Louise Finch, or Scout as she is fondly called (Piper Cunningham) manages to live a rather carefree, privileged existence, insulated from issues of race. All that changes when Scout watches her father, Atticus Finch (John Rodgers) defend an innocent man, Tom Robinson (Sean Massey) against a potential death sentence looming threateningly against him because of racial prejudice.

Scout begins to realize that just because society portrays something as being true doesn’t mean that it actually is fact. With the help of Atticus, and her older brother Jem, (Luke Knittle) Scout learns that “growing up” often means doing what is right, even when it comes at great cost. Although this American classic masterpiece is looked upon as a portrait of the power of childhood innocence, morality and love, author Harper Lee always defined it as a simple love story.

Jem and Scout’s relationship was one of big brother and little sister but also almost like a second father protecting his child. Knittle’s character Jem put the BIG in big brother. His protective and know-it-all demeanor is believable and won my heart. I was very impressed by the professionalism both Knittle and Cunningham displayed. Not once did they break character and their handling of the serious subject matter allowed me to invest myself into their well being. I found myself watching them intensely just to see how they would handle such a strong topic and they nailed it.

This story has so many lessons for all ages, but often great lessons still need great teachers and this is where Atticus Finch comes in. John Rodgers delivered all of his talent and passion for acting into this role and made you care about characters that you really shouldn’t feel sorry for. Rodger’s portrayal of Atticus Finch was not only believable as the gentle father figure, but also as the lawyer defending this innocent man. His confident demeanor in the court room was spot on.

It is not often that a community theater can offer such absolute brilliance to the general public. The Firehouse Theater and its entire company of “To Kill A Mockingbird” positively shine as an example of what happens when exceptional talent and production staff are brought together.

The show will be running through September 25th. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.thefirehousetheatre.com or by calling the box office at (972) 620-3747. The theater is located in the historic converted firehouse at 2535 Valley View Lane in Dallas, Texas.