HARPER LEE'S TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Event Review October 11, 2022 Eclectic Arts
HARPER LEE’S TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD”
A New Play by Aaron Sorkin
Bartlett Sher - Director
Premera Blue Cross Broadway At The Paramount
Seattle, WA
Performance Review: Tuesday October 11, 2022
I was looking forward to finally seeing a version of this well known book and film. As you may have guessed, I had zero background as I headed into the theatre last night. This review is purely based on what was presented on stage.
Let me say this right off the bat - the show is phenomenal!
The level of acting from the cast was just stellar. The courtroom scenes in particular were as intense and dramatic as anything I’ve ever witnessed (in-person or on screen).
Richard Thomas as Atticus Finch put on a masterclass on character and acting. He has to carry basically every scene in the play and Mr. Thomas does it with such command and authority, it was truly breathtaking to watch.
The other cast members were no acting slouches, either. Joey Collins as hated villain Bob Ewell and Richard Poe as the firm but realistic Judge Taylor really brought this show to life.
The center of the case - Tom Robinson played by Yaegel T. Welch - was also a marvel to behold. The acting was so good that you damn near felt like you were a witness to an actual court case.
My only small gripes were the narrative pieces from the children. Scout and Jem Finch and their friend Dill Harris. When they would talk to the audience during the home scenes, it was fine. They got laughs out of the audience and at times they got people to think. My real gripe was during the courtroom scenes. The material is so dark, and so intense, that any narration during those scenes is really unnecessary. And by act two they were actually annoying to me. Keep in mind I’m not talking about the actors, just the use of the narrative during the courtroom scenes. If they were staying true to the book then so be it. But, I still didn’t like that aspect of the show. We the audience know what’s going on during the courtroom scenes. We don’t need someone to tell us or to compare it to something else or definitely not to say something to bring levity to the proceedings. Those scenes are intense for good reason - a man’s life is at stake. Keep it that way.
Overall though, “Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird” is absolutely a must see! I was blown away by the performances and the story. A little moderation with the narrative parts and it would have been damn near perfect.
“Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird” runs through Sunday October 16th. Tickets are available here: TICKETS!
Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts
Connect with Eclectic Arts: Social Media Links Here
A New Play by Aaron Sorkin
Bartlett Sher - Director
Premera Blue Cross Broadway At The Paramount
Seattle, WA
Performance Review: Tuesday October 11, 2022
(Richard Thomas (“Atticus Finch”) and The Company of To Kill a Mockingbird. Photo by Julieta Cervantes.)
I was looking forward to finally seeing a version of this well known book and film. As you may have guessed, I had zero background as I headed into the theatre last night. This review is purely based on what was presented on stage.
Let me say this right off the bat - the show is phenomenal!
The level of acting from the cast was just stellar. The courtroom scenes in particular were as intense and dramatic as anything I’ve ever witnessed (in-person or on screen).
Richard Thomas as Atticus Finch put on a masterclass on character and acting. He has to carry basically every scene in the play and Mr. Thomas does it with such command and authority, it was truly breathtaking to watch.
(Yaegel T. Welch (“Tom Robinson”) and The Company of To Kill a Mockingbird. Photo by Julieta Cervantes.)
The other cast members were no acting slouches, either. Joey Collins as hated villain Bob Ewell and Richard Poe as the firm but realistic Judge Taylor really brought this show to life.
The center of the case - Tom Robinson played by Yaegel T. Welch - was also a marvel to behold. The acting was so good that you damn near felt like you were a witness to an actual court case.
My only small gripes were the narrative pieces from the children. Scout and Jem Finch and their friend Dill Harris. When they would talk to the audience during the home scenes, it was fine. They got laughs out of the audience and at times they got people to think. My real gripe was during the courtroom scenes. The material is so dark, and so intense, that any narration during those scenes is really unnecessary. And by act two they were actually annoying to me. Keep in mind I’m not talking about the actors, just the use of the narrative during the courtroom scenes. If they were staying true to the book then so be it. But, I still didn’t like that aspect of the show. We the audience know what’s going on during the courtroom scenes. We don’t need someone to tell us or to compare it to something else or definitely not to say something to bring levity to the proceedings. Those scenes are intense for good reason - a man’s life is at stake. Keep it that way.
Overall though, “Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird” is absolutely a must see! I was blown away by the performances and the story. A little moderation with the narrative parts and it would have been damn near perfect.
“Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird” runs through Sunday October 16th. Tickets are available here: TICKETS!
Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts
Connect with Eclectic Arts: Social Media Links Here
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