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BrumHour saw To Kill a Mockingbird at the invite of Birmingham Hippodrome.
By Dave Massey
This production contains very strong racial slurs throughout.
To Kill a Mockingbird at Birmingham Hippodrome: Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐A classic production.
Directed by Bartlett Sher, adapted by Aaron Sorkin
Set in Alabama, United States, in the 1930s, To Kill A Mockingbird is a narrated stage production based on the 1960s novel by Harper Lee. Scout (Anna Munden) and her brother, Jem (Gabriel Scott), tell the story of their legal professional father, Atticus Finch (Patrick O’Kane), defending Tom Robinson (Aaron Shosanya), a Black American who is accused of assaulting a young white woman, Mayella (Evie Hargreaves), in her own home.
This is a large and fairly long story which plays out over two hours and thirty minutes, plus an interval of twenty minutes. As well as covering the shocking and heavy story of racism and trial without peers, this production reflects lighter moments of humour, which serve to make the serious moments hit even harder.
Anna Munden and Gabriel Scott are excellent as the siblings, Scout and Jem. Aaron Shosanya is heartbreaking as Tom, already vulnerable from the moment he arrives on stage. Patrick O’Kane leads this production confidently as Atticus, whilst Dylan Malyn steals every moment he’s speaking as the siblings’ friend Dill.
The set switches from courtroom to porch, to dining room and then bedroom quickly without distracting too much. The incidental music helps show the time passage, and the monologues to the audience help set the scene quickly, too.
Most people coming to see this will understand it is a heavy story with quite challenging moments, but I came into this story fresh. It shows a different culture nearly ninety years ago, which reflects on today’s society too.
A classic production. To Kill A Mockingbird is at Birmingham Hippodrome until 18th April. Book tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/to-kill-a-mockingbird.
