'Mockingbird' opens tonight at Playhouse

Thursday, September 7, 2006

The 45th season of the Putnam County Playhouse will close with a stage version of Harper Lee's Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Written by Christopher Sergel, it will be presented beginning tonight and run through Saturday. In addition, it will again run on Sept. 13-16. All performances will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 each.

Reservations can be made at that time by calling the box office at 653-5880.

The drama is sponsored by Fine Print Bookstore and Fine Print Printing.

Director Beth Girton and assistant director Timothy L. Fox worked with a cast of 18 people to bring the story to life. Told as a memory through the eyes of grown-up Jean Louise (Gigi Fenlon), she watches as younger self Scout (Katie Mehrlich), her brother Jem (Dane Van Paris) and their friend Dill (Chauncey Baker) live through the summer of 1935 in their home town of Maycomb, Ala.

Atticus Finch (Chris Wurster) has been chosen by the local justice community, Judge Taylor (Jim Rambo) and Sheriff Heck Tate (Jack Randall Earles) to defend Tom Robinson (James Patton), a young African American man falsely accused of a crime. The accusers, Bob Euell (Keith Bodnarick) and his daughter Mayella (Mary Michael) are the chief witnesses in the trial that is presented onstage.

The neighbors that Jean Louise remember include Maudie Atkinson (Girton) and Stephanie Crawford (Jessica Walter), Walter Cunningham (Caine Gardner), Boo Radley (Nicholas Tongret), Mrs. Dubose (Sandi Rossok), and Mrs. Sykes (Sandy Saint-Victor).

Also figuring in the action are Calpurnia (Jessica Martin), and Mr. Gilmer (Bill Wieland).

The set was designed by Larry Sutton with lighting by Bryan Schroeder. Linda Gjesvold did special set pieces and Rossok coordinated the costumes.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" was produced as a popular motion picture in 1962. Its star, Gregory Peck, won an Academy Award for his performance as Atticus Finch.

Parents who wish to baring younger children might first view the film to understand the subjects dealt with in this play.

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