Harper Lee’s Classic Comes to Life on Stage

Posted on November, 15 at 2:00 pm

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is currently running at the Chanticleer Theater in Council Bluffs. Based on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Award-winning novel, it is the story of attorney, Atticus Finch who defends a black man in the depression era of the South. His two children, Scout and Jem, learn valuable lessons about racial and social injustice in the small town of Macomb, Alabama.

The townspeople are convincingly portrayed by Robin Payton as Maudie Atkinson, Kristiner Dunbar as Stephanie Crawford and Molly Chedester as the elderly Mrs. Dubose. Mrs. Dubose’s biting comments are particularly entertaining.

Phyllis Mitchel-Butler brings Calpurnia to life with her quiet, yet no-nonsense manner in disciplining and caring for Scout and Jem while Atticus is at work.

Ron Hines gives the strongest performance as Atticus Finch. He captures the essence of the white lawyer who cannot ignore his conscience and defends a black man in spite of the town’s objections and the overwhelming odds against his client’s vindication.

Tym Livers is the embodiment of ignorance and meanness as Bob Ewell. His racial slurs and epitaphs punctuate the underlying viciousness and bigotry that was openly rampant in the South of that era and beyond.

The courtroom scenes are the most compelling. Atticus questions the veracity of Mayella Ewell’s testimony as well as that of her father’s. Corie Grant Leanna, as Mayella, points out Tom Robinson as her attacker and is obviously protecting her abusive father.

While the jury is out deliberating, there is a moving scene between Reverend Sykes (James Wright), Helen Robinson (Dara Newson) and Tom Robinson (Marty “Jamar” Johnson). Wright and Newson sing a spiritual as they attempt to comfort Johnson.

In the aftermath of the trial, Bob Ewell is intent on revenge. Scout and Jem are attacked. John Payton gives a brief, but moving performance as the mysterious and notorious Boo Radley.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is as pertinent today as it was when the book was written over 50 years ago. It’s definitely worth seeing. Performances run Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 PM and Sunday afternoons at 2 PM through November 28th. For tickets or information call 712-323-9955.

Hines an excellent Atticus at Chanticleer

Staff photo/Cindy Christensen - Ron Hines, pictured with Abby Cameron as Scout, stars as Atticus in Chanticleer Community Theater's production of "To Kill a Mockingbird." Hines nails the part, reviews Special Sections and Arts & Entertainment Editor Kim Bousquet.

Published: Thursday, November 18, 2010 11:52 AM CST

If a theater is going to stage the classic “To Kill a Mockingbird,” it had better cast a knockout actor as Atticus, a man of great character with a number of great lines that need to be delivered passionately yet calmly.

Ron Hines, who stars as Atticus in Chanticleer Community Theater’s production, nails the part. He is an excellent Atticus. He particularly shines during the extended courtroom scene in the show, delivering his plea directly to us, the audience.

Director Mark Manhart has assembled an interesting cast, capable of making minor roles memorable. The cast plays stereotypical people in a small Alabama town in 1935. Some of the more attention-grabbing roles were the mean old Mrs. Bubose (Molly Chedester); the poor Ewells who accuse an innocent black man of a horrible crime (Tym Livers was believable as the lowly Bob Ewell and Corie Grant Leanna as Mayella had a great moment in the courtroom); and the prosecutor with a slam-dunk case, Mr. Gilmore (Mark J. Schnitzler).

I thought Phyllis Mitchel-Butler was great as the Finch children’s nanny and John Payton made for a good combo of Nathan and Boo Radley. Dara Newson also had a great emotional moment in the show as Helen, the wife of the accused man, Tom Robinson (played by Marty “Jamar” Johnson).

There were some young actors in the cast who also did a good job in their roles. Abby Cameron as Scout did a fine job in her role in the spotlight as the inquisitive girl. Emma Chvala played her brother, Jem, and Lily Gilliland played Dill.

Overall, the cast in this drama with very little actual action did a great job.

Chanticleer, 830 Franklin Ave., presents “To Kill a Mockingbird” through Nov. 28.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $17 for adults; $14 for seniors; and $9 for children and students. For reservations, contact the box office at (712) 323-9955 or e-mail manager@chanticleertheater.com.

Realism stands out in stage version of ‘Mockingbird’

By Bob Fischbach
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The Chanticleer Theater will honor the 50th anniversary of “To Kill a Mockingbird” with a stage production, opening Friday. But don’t expect it to slavishly copy Harper Lee’s 1960 novel or the 1962 movie version, said director Mark Manhart.

“It’s been such a pleasure doing this show,” said Manhart, who has worked to re-create the milieu of a slow, hot Southern summer. “The problem, of course, is that the movie is so well-known, but the movie and the play are not the same. Everybody remembers the enormous life that came out of Gregory Peck’s performance as Atticus.”

The role earned Gregory Peck an Oscar.

Still, Manhart said, he likes the play (1990) better, and he’s very pleased with Ron Hines, who plays Atticus Finch, the lawyer in “Mockingbird” who defends an innocent black man accused of rape in the deep South in 1935. Mark Schnitzler, as the prosecuting attorney, is also excellent, Manhart said.

Manhart said the play is so real that a scene at rehearsal the other night involving the Rev. Sykes character caused the entire company to watch, hushed. “You could hear a pin drop,” Manhart said.

Theater patrons have told Manhart they want to see the play because the book or the movie changed their lives.

“The whole race issue is out there so blatantly for everyone to see,” he said. “That script is just wonderful.”

Manhart cast three little girls to play Jem and Scout, the young son and daughter of Atticus, along with Dill, a male playmate. Manhart said the three girls “were a little clique” at auditions, and he wanted to use their established friendships in their onstage roles. The story is told through the children’s eyes.

Scenic designer Bob Putman said the simple set will include a street with five house fronts, a tree, fences. A judge’s bench and tables will suggest a courtroom.

“We’re not filling the stage with detail,” Manhart said. “The simplicity will accentuate the acting.”

Burger King
3100 South Expressway
Council Bluffs, IA 51501-7665
(712) 366-2295

Time of visit: 9/22/2010 5:28pm

My wife and I stopped at this location for dinner. After purchasing our meal we noticed a large flat-screen television tuned to Fox News Network. Both the store manager and the regional manager were present at the time, so I asked if the channel could be changed to anything else. Both individuals informed me that the channel was set by corporate policy and was only changed for major sporting events. They were polite enough about it.

I will be calling the consumer relations number during business hours today to verify this policy. If I learn that I was misinformed then I will lodge a complaint against that location. However, if Burger King really does require that their onsite televisions display Fox News, I won't be frequenting the chain at all anymore. Either way, I'll update this post with the news.

Politics is a divisive issue and has no place where people are trying to enjoy a meal. But if the price of my dinner must help to spread a political view, I would rather it was not one which kills my appetite.

I'd heard that McDonald's was doing this, too. This makes no sense to me. Fox News is engaged in an active war on the middle class and the poor. These are the people who eat fast food, guys. When we can't afford fast food, where will you be?

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Miami, Florida 33126

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