'To Kill A Mockingbird' soars to new heights on Broadway
Courtesy of Broadway Shows
Eight times a week on the Shubert Theatre stage, Harper Lee’s classic novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” comes to life. While the novel is well-known and loved by many, the Broadway production of the novel is still in its infancy. It opened on Broadway over a year ago on Dec. 13, 2018, and since then it has already become the highest-grossing American play ever.
Mirroring the book, “To Kill a Mockingbird” follows the members of Maycomb County as they unravel and exploit racial tensions surrounding the case against Tom Robinson, a black farmhand accused of rape and assault. It is told through the eyes of siblings Scout and Jem Finch and their friend Dill as they recount the events that led up to the moment Jem broke his arm. Much of their narrative recounts the trial of Robinson, who is being defended by Atticus Finch, Jem and Scout’s father.
The Broadway play does a spectacular job presenting Atticus Finch as more than a martyr who tries to instill good values in his children and takes the risk of defending a black man in the racist South, like he is in the book. Instead, Atticus is portrayed as somewhat of a tragic hero who has his own faults. He is narrow-minded in his approach to teaching his children, focusing too much on being good and polite rather than being brave and outspoken, like Jem and Scout really are.
Atticus also fails to notice how his position as an educated white man has given him privileges and an outlook on life that is not shared by everyone in Maycomb County. The Finch family’s black housekeeper, Calpurnia, acts as a guiding force for Atticus, showing him that he is not as much of a martyr as he thinks he is. Atticus Finch, who is typically thought of as the perfect example of “good,” is portrayed as someone less than perfect.
This fresh portrayal of Atticus was furthered by a fantastic performance by Ed Harris. Known for his award-winning roles in “Empire Falls,” “Game Change” and “Pollock,” Harris’s talent shines effortlessly on stage. Harris is both delicate and sharp as Atticus Finch, easily shifting from the mannerisms of a lawyer to those of a father.
Scout (Nina Grollman), Jem (Nick Robinson) and Dill (Taylor Trensch) all excelled in their roles, bringing life and even humor to an otherwise somber story. They all beautifully portray the loss of innocence that their characters face when exposed to the hatred and racism in their community. “To Kill A Mockingbird” is a story about innocence and how one of the greatest sins we can commit is taking that innocence away from someone – as Atticus says, “It is a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Maycomb County took the innocence away from people like Scout, Jem, Dill, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, who were all completely changed because of the negative, hateful actions of townsfolk. Grollman, Robinson and Trensch make the audience feel like they too are witnessing a sin being committed.
Any live representation of a book seldom lives up to the impact of the original, but the Broadway play easily holds its own. The story stays true to the original but adds elements that make the characters shine beyond the words on the page. Whether you’ve read the book or not, “To Kill a Mockingbird” on Broadway will keep you on the edge of your seat and itching to grab a copy of Harper Lee’s classic.
