TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Previews — Page 6

This idea of the actor's moving the set around is getting old very quickly for me. How about letting the actor's act?

I have always loved this novel and I love the actors chosen for the show, not to mention Sorkin's writing. I was wondering and somewhat concerned in the few pictures I have seen that the play is directed to take place in modern day. Does the cast dress for 1930s Alabama or do they dress for 2018 America? Just curious.

Does anyone know if any merchandise is sold? Mugs, T-Shirts, etc? If not, is it possible it could be sold closer to opening?

Miles2Go2 said: "Someone I met who worked at Golden during TTW stated that Rudin doesn’t do merch for any of his plays."

As an avid magnet collector, I can confirm that this is basically true, but The Humans did have a merchandise booth.

Updated On: 11/8/18 at 07:58 AM

I wonder if they will publish the script. I'd love to read it.

I think the only issue I have with Sorkin is that anything he does, always seems to have this idea of "source material, or real event doesn't speak dramatically to him, he will change and alter what to suit so". I don't know why he needed to make up half of the Facebook movie, etc.

Although, while I want to hate it, because I love the story, I can't judge it without seeing it. It seems to be a whole new thing.

By the way, over the summer I saw the current stage adaptation, at the Stratford Festival, and I thought it was really good. I have no issues with the script.

Saw a preview on Monday and loved it. I've seen other stage adaptations of the material, all competent, but this was the first that made a real case for "Mockingbird" as a piece of theater, and it packs a punch. The script is non-linear, beginning with Scout (played to perfection by Celia Keenan-Bolger) wrestling with the facts of Bob Ewell's death. Our knowledge of that plot point colors what we see as the evening unfolds, and the structure allows Scout, Jim and Dill to guide us through the story freely. For instance, one of the courtroom scenes proceeds a scene in which we see Atticus accepting the case. The tension of what we know will come of this decision gives the scene extra depth. Sorkin embraces the possibilities of theatrical storytelling in a thrilling way, and even if it's a story you know well, you will encounter it in a new way. I was deeply moved several times during the evening. There are many transitions, and while they are well thought-out and the narration never stops, it does distract and break up the action. There are two kinds of scene changes--shifting to Atticus' house happens mechanically (it both flies in and rises from the floor, as well as having porch pieces that float in from the wings), while the courtroom is assembled by "the people" (the actors pull everything in from offstage). It's a lovely, if unspoken, metaphor. The acting is uniformly excellent, the scenes are fleetly played although the evening is long. The first act is bloated at 90 minutes. Especially the scenes with Mrs. Dubose, which come late in an already long act, could disappear or become narration with very little loss of content--and we'd lose a couple clunky scene changes in the process. Jeff Bridges is giving a lovely performance in an enormous role. At times he hits the same emotional tone over and over (how many different ways can you be open-hearted, forgiving and tolerant in speeches about man's essential goodness?), but he will certainly find other levels, he's a brilliant actor well-cast. "Adults as children" works perfectly in this context, mostly because the structure is so freewheeling. (In contrast, the use of adult actors as children in "Bridges of Madison County"--also Bart Sher--was distracting and amateurish, because the rest of the story was told so literally). The play is presented as a period piece, but there's no doubt Sorkin believes in it's relevance, and has constructed dialogue that pushes that button without being preachy. We are left to see the parallels ourselves, and it's clear that the audience does. My one quibble is the use of choral singing during sections of Adam Guettel's score--it all sounded terribly messy, distractingly so. Actors who are not really singers trying to achieve complicated harmonies while moving set-pieces just did not work. Give it to one or two people, or pre-record it. That aside, this is a terrific night of theater with world-class writing and performances.

mtcond said: "Jeff Bridges is giving a lovely performance in an enormous role."

The dude abides!

"In contrast, the use of adult actors as children in "Bridges of Madison County"--also Bart Sher--was distracting and amateurish, because the rest of the story was told so literally)."

Huh? While perhaps not literal teens, I didn't think they were casting adults who were then pretending to be children. They were far younger than the rest of the ensemble.

I just noticed that both telecharge and TDF have removed the 7pm show on December 12th from their calendar of available tickets, which is what would be the last preview before opening.

Has anyone heard anything about this change? When I checked yesterday most of the balcony was still available (I was trying to buy tickets for it but left it for today)