Above : Sarah Maria Stubley as Maudie Atkinson
The play is geared for a satisfactory outcome. First night full house, the audience pumped for an amped-up performance.
Its the seminal American novel by Harper Lee, about racial injustice and childhoodninnocence comes to life here at the Genesian Theatre, Rozelle.
Successful lawyer Atticus Finch played by charismatic Barry Nielsen encourages kindness and empathy in his children but is pushed to the limits when he resolves to uncover the truth in a town that seems determined to hide it.
Set in 1934 Alabama, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD was inspired by the novelist Harper Lee’s own childhood selling more than 45 million copies world wide, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Literature and remaining for many years at the top of the banned book lists.
A trial of a young black man who stands accused of a terrible crime, shakes the seemingly peaceful town to its core. Through the eyes of Scout played by the engaging Brigid Jeffries the classic play comes to alive in a moving story of prejudice, compassion and the fight for justice, a timeless tale that still speaks powerfully to the world we live in today. As Atticus says, “you never really understand a person until you clim into his skin and walk around in it”.
Nine year old Scout’s world is turned upside-down with Atticus’ decision to take on the trial. Tensions erupt as neighbours take sides in the life- and-death case, it is Scout’s clear-eyed courage in the face of ignorance and bigotry that will ultimately bring hope to a damaged community.
Set in Depression era, Deep South, Alabama, the play elicits to life the humanity and childish wonder with tremendous heart and emotional depth by the large cast in the repertoire, with warmth and sincerity.
I found this production amusing, engaging and very affecting….asking exactly how far that we have come in the last 70-odd years with regard to racial bigotry, leaving the answer an open question. So how to adapt the original script, drawing out the lawyer’s moral inconsistencies without undermining his goodness completely is a masterful job by director Theo Hatzistergos and production advisor Mark Nagle who place quietly dignified
Atticus, a firm believer in American justice, pits our emotional barometer towards TombRobinson played by Ibrahim Conteh whose acting emotionally and physically was a great performance, despite his crying almost masking his speech. The housekeeper Calpurnia is played with force and dignity by Norah Masige is given a louder, forceful voice which shebuses movingly.
Jem and Dill are played by adults Reuban Hann and Maximilian Choma, a risky venture that pays off remarkably well, bringing gentle but genuine humour.Scout has a strong presence acting as the steadying force between Jem and Dill who bring defining qualities to their characters. The trio bewitch and entertain jointly narrating so it becomes shared rather than Scout’s.
The adaptation rejigs the narrative smoothly, weaving together the children’s world and the legal drama. The direction is smooth with scenes that switch between the courtroom and the Finch’s porch. The fast transforming sets are a credit to the skills of Tui Clark . I was taken by Maudie Atkinson’s narrating role played by Sarah Marie Stubley. She carries the heart of the play.
The production retains the racial language contained within the original text. Asconfronting and uncomfortable as they are, they are reserved not for shock value butbecause removing them risks softening the harsh realities of the prejudice and injustice which the play seeks to explore. At the heart of the township of Maycomb people are rarely defined by the roles society assigns to them. Beneath reputation, appearance, and assumption lies a far more humane and complicated truth.
Kudos to the cast and creatives who have made this a memorable production.
The Genesian Theatre Company’s production of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is playing the Genesian Theatre, St Joseph’s Church Hall, 2B Gordon Street, Rozelle until the 4th July 2026.
http://www.genesiantheatre.com.au
