Syracuse Stage
February 24- March 26
Syracuse Stage presents this American classic at a time when race has again gained our nations’ attention. To Kill A Mockingbird from the novel by Harper Lee takes on additional significance given her recent death. This story is testimony to its timeless nature that resonates with readers and theatergoers decades after its publication.
To Kill Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb, Alabama, 1935. It chronicles life in a hot southern town as it wrestles with a crime that galvanizes the white citizenry against a Black man.
It all starts when respected lawyer Atticus Finch takes on a case that has him defending a man public opinion has already convicted. As the story takes us to trial the jury and audience is focused on the testimony of witnesses. How will these series of events end?
As the children view the proceedings they cannot believe that there would be any verdict but the obvious. Mark Murphey as Atticus played the role with an ease of a hot southern day breathing fire into the defense of his client, Tom (Landon G. Wilson).
The intelligible innocence of the children; Scout, convincingly portrayed by Sera Bullis, Jem (Matthew Caraccioli) and Dill (Anthony Cawley) transported you into the lives of children, their thoughts and reactions to the justice system being presented before them.
Other cast members include; Perri Gaffney as Calpurnia, William Hall, Hr. as Rev. Sykes and Liam Craig (Heck Tate), and Rachel Towne(Mayella Ewell). Also, effective were the members of the Jury who were local residents chosen to be in the production.
You watch To Kill Mockingbird, hoping against hope for a different outcome to the trial. Things can’t really be this way in America today, this is a story written in 1935.
However, the strength of this classic novel challenges the notions that this is about the past. Recent events in America indicate this is systemic, Harper Lee called it as it was in 1935. The only difference today is air conditioning in the courthouse.
