As the curtain opened on Maycomb County Alabama, it revealed a small girl, sitting in a rocking chair on the porch of her house. Freedom High School‚s production of the classic "To Kill A Mockingbird" had begun.
The play "To Kill A Mockingbird" is based off of the classic novel written by Harper Lee. It is set in a small southern town in the 1930s during the Great Depression. Besides being turned into a play, it was also the basis for a movie. "To Kill A Mockingbird" is the story of a young girl named Scout, her brother, Jem, their father Atticus, and how they deal with a town in crisis. A black man in Maycomb, Tom Robinson, is accused of raping a young woman, and Atticus has been chosen to defend him. Throughout the play the family faces prejudice and dangers as Atticus fights to uphold justice.
Freedom High School's production of "To Kill a Mockingbird" was carried by the energy and dedication of a few main characters. These characters stood out with their commitment to their roles and believable physicality and dialogue.
Tara Lemieux, playing Scout, provided a realistic interpretation. Through her childlike movements she was able to portray a character much younger than herself. She made her relationships with the other characters, such as Atticus, Jem and Dill, very apparent and spoke clearly throughout the show.
Jem Finch, played by David Hummer, was fun to watch on stage. Hummer was able to bring across Jem's impatient boyish nature through his quick pick up on lines and his frequent movement. Bradly Roukis shone in his role as Bob Ewell. He had appropriate build up to his outbursts in court and his slouching and swagger added to the characterization.
The set, lighting, sound and props were all generally simple, but effective. The lighting was mostly very simple stage lights, but there were a few moments that required spotlights. The spotlights were always right on cue and in the right place. During the change of scene from the town to the courthouse, the running crew seemed to have a little trouble. The change was noisy and long, but in the end, the scene was changed and the court scene was able to begin.
Freedom High School took on an ambitious project with this classic. They were able to accurately portray the serious themes of the show.