TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. To 20 October.
Pitlochry
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
by Harper Lee adapted by Christopher Sergel
Pitlochry Festival Theatre In rep to 20 October 2005
Mon-Sat 8pm Mat Wed & Sat 2pm
Runs 2hr 30min One interval
TICKETS: 01796 484626
boxoffice@pitlochry.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 13 August
Liberal optimism still packs a punch.Christopher Sergel's adaptation of Harper Lee's story of mid-30s small-town American prejudice and enlightenment is both sturdy and creaking. It allows full voice to events and issues, giving focus to the novel's young-girl focus, Scout - daughter to wise if reticent lawyer Atticus Finch. Yet its realistic, linear approach results in too many comings and goings, while awkwardly profiling liberal-minded neighbour Maudie (a sympathetic Karen Davies) over unthinking and gosippy Stephanie (Jacqueline Dutoit pointed yet dignified). In the trial scene straddling the interval Sergel grows over -explicit, clunkily explaining what modern audiences could surely pick up for themselves.
Still, Jonathan Coote - clearly too young yet with mature wisdom in his rich, deep voice - gives Atticus a deliberate quality that never becomes ponderous. And Aoibheann O' Hara's superb, enthusiastic and enquiring, as Scout, the 6-year old learning about the complexity of life in her community, where the one dark spot - the house where the mysterious recluse Boo Radley lives - ends up the point of light. (Its door-window, so long black, remains illuminated after other lights have gone out at the end, while Dougal Lee makes a sympathetic impact in Boo's brief appearance).
The trial of Black man Tom Robinson for allegedly raping a white-trash girl (Kezia Burrows, all lank hair shielding her scared face and fidgeting feet turned-in defensively at a trail where she copes only by aggression) has evidence that's as clear as is the jury's eventual verdict. Though they don't necessarily correlate; the huge flag backing the courtroom drops to the ground along with American justice when the outcome's known. And the state of race relations is clear in Joel Trill's subdued Tom and the auto-obeisance of Dennis Conlon's coloured preacher.
In John Durnin's truthful, well-paced production all the qualities of this Henry Fonda movie manque come out. Though the arguments and, in Sergel's condensation, the emotion-tugging, are obvious enough, the truth of Lee's picture of an innocent child's-eye view of society acquiring experience through tough experience remains forceful and emotional. Just as the solid homes of Adrian Rees's set have slates missing from the roofs, so the darker truths about Maycomb, 1935 seep out and hit home in this fine revival.
Maudie Atkinson: Karen Davies
Scout Finch: Aoibheann O'Hara
Calpurnia: Lynette Clarke
Stephanie Crawford: Jacqueline Dutoit
Heck Tate: Gregory Gudgeon
Judge Taylor/Nathan Radley: Martyn James
Mrs Dubose: Clare Richards
Jem Finch: Dominic Brewer
Reverend Sykes: Dennis Conlon
Mayella Ewell: Kezia Burrows
Bob Ewell: Richard Addison
Dill Harris: Stewart Cairns
Atticus Finch: Jonathan Coote
Walter Cunningham/Mr Gilmer: Robin Harvey Edwards
Tom Robinson: Joel Trill
Boo Radley: Dougal Lee
Director: John Durnin
Designer/Costume: Adrian Rees
Lighting: Jeanine Davies
Voice coach: Lynn Bains
Fight director: Rraymond Short
2005-08-15 15:48:48