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To Kill A Mockingbird
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 23rd May 2013
The Regent's Park Open Air Theatre has kicked off its 2013 season with an extraordinary production of To Kill A Mockingbird (adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel) which is performed with class and sincerity.
The play suddenly begins with cast members unexpectedly popping up all around the theatre, reading from various copies of Harper Lee's classic novel. Eventually the cast venture onto the almost empty stage and use chalk to draw out a map which allows the audience to imagine the world of the play. This beginning section is truly magical and draws you into the story straight away.
Time is taken to carefully introduce the various characters which is probably why the first half is a little less exciting. To Kill A Mockingbird is very much an ensemble show and the cast are outstanding. Rarely leaving the stage, the cast simply sit at the sides when they are not in a scene and then seamlessly morph into character when required. The cast each take turn to read the narrative (which is written from the point of view of Scout, one of the children) helping to move the story along swiftly.
The show is set in the Deep South and sees racial injustice envelop a small-town community. The story follows lawyer Atticus Finch (played by Broadway star Robert Sean Leonard) who tries to bring courage and compassion but it is his daughter Scout who brings new hope to the neighbourhood in turmoil.
The first half is a little slow in places but during the second act the storyline becomes incredibly intense as the trial of Tom Robinson take place. He is a black man who has been accused of raping a white woman. The trial scene is a little long winded but this only builds up more tension and had me (literally) sitting on the edge of my seat.
Three sets of children share the roles of Scout, Jem and Dill. The young performers I saw each gave captivating performances and portrayed their roles with truth and innocence. It is almost impossible to comprehend that for some of them this production marks their professional debut.
From the second I walked through the gates I was in utter awe of the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre - it is stunning! For some the idea of sitting in a park in the freezing cold until 10.15pm may not be so appealing but it really does provide an experience like no other (just take plenty of layers with you). Despite a pre-show shower, the rain held off for the performance (although I did have my poncho on stand-by) and I became so wrapped up in the story that I completely forgot just how cold I was. The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is the most atmospheric theatre I have ever been to and the simplicity of Jon Bausor's design is spellbinding.
This production of To Kill A Mockingbird is storytelling at its very best. The show does not rely on huge sets, dazzling costumes or fancy lighting, it is purely about a group of actors telling a story with a very powerful message.
Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
To Kill A Mockingbird runs at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until 15th June 2013.
Click here to book tickets.
Photo Credit: Johan Persson
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This book is so simple,so lucid yet it touches your heart. Harper Lee won a Pulitzer for this one and she deserves it!!
ReplyDeleteThis book is set in early nineties in a small town in Mississippi. The protagonist is a small girl who leans about life. Scout is a small girl, who along with her brother Jem see the evil of racism. Their father , Atticus is a lawyer who defends an innocent black man. In the end the evil of racism sees the poor man being punished. Yet we see how the incident affects Scout and Jem and how Atticus teaches the entire world a lesson.