Theater Commentary: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (National Tour)

TO READ A BOOK. TO SEE A PLAY.
TO CORROBORATE LESSONS LEARNED.

I have been an avid reader my whole life beginning at the age of eight. I can’t remember the exact year that I read Harper Lee’s book, To Kill A Mockingbird, sometime around high school, after which I saw the film. Last night at 65 years old, I saw the play version, directed by Bartlett Sher. The impact that one book had on my life came roaring back watching the extraordinary National Tour production at the Pantages Theater last night. To see the guiding principles of my youth come to life vividly reminded me that those lessons were taught to me at the exact time they needed to be taught. It left me in tearful wonder. Books are powerful and this one most of all. You are what your read. It’s as simple as that. When a mind as young as mine was formed by these basic pillars of justice, racial equality, compassion and empathy, those character traits became forged in steel upon my psyche in such a manner that no parent, peer or politician can ever alter. My dreamer’s wish is that it becomes mandatory reading, in every state from the 8^th grade on, but also that the play be seen. It would accomplish the same.

Richard Thomas ('Atticus Finch') and The CompanySteven Lee Johnson ('Dill Harris'), Melanie Moore ('Scout Finch') and Justin Mark ('Jem Finch')

These tenets taught weren’t sparked by the embers of fire-and-brimstone hypocrisy from a pulpit or a campaign whistle stop. They were taught with the most powerful tool in a teacher’s toolbox: humor and wit, both of which can only come from true wisdom. Humor penetrates the young mind best. All of Lee’s characters have lived in me for near fifty years — some emulated, some eschewed, but mold me they did. I’ve often wondered how I came to my beliefs. I was neither raised by racist parents nor had open discussion about equality for all. Last night I found out. It was as if I had encountered an old mentor. Watching the amazing play, adapted by Aaron Sorkin, reminded me of the impact the story’s lessons had on me. The cornerstone of that wisdom was brought to the forefront of my mind last night. Trying to doing the right thing is just as important as doing the right thing. There are times in everyone’s life when one is faced with a situation that goes against their strict moral code.  One must then summon the courage to set that rigid compass aside and instead take a never-traveled path in the dark for a just outcome.

Yaegel T. Welch ('Tom Robinson'), Stephen Elrod, Jacqueline Williams ('Calpurnia')
and Richard Thomas ('Atticus Finch')
Dorcas Sowunmi and Mary Badham, who at ten played Scout in the 1962 film version, is 'Mrs. Henry Dubose'

Sorkin’s adaptation is superb beyond compare. The production is as masterful as it gets. After the performance, I wondered, just who exactly was Harper Lee? I found she was no great author with a stream of best sellers. She wrote only three books. She was simply a woman with a story to tell. To Kill A Mockingbird came from her keen observation of the life around her, crystallized by her heart and soul and mind and distilled by the lessons she was taught. Harper’s brilliance didn’t need a string of hits — the one she got was more than enough for any author’s lifetime.

Jacqueline Williams ('Calpurnia')

To Kill A Mockingbird
national tour
plays Pantages through November 29, 2022
tour continues well into 2023
for cities and dates, visit Mockingbird