Aaron Sorkin's adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird is finally on Broadway. It's a very engaging play though allegedly different from the original. Atticus isn't quite as I remember him in the movie. He is a flawed character, perhaps more close to the original character in the book. His moral compass is perhaps too strong, choosing to see the good in everyone to the fault of ignoring faults. He is a passive character whose moral convictions prevent him from striking out against those who would take advantage of him. In some ways, he is the moderate liberal who understands the detrimental effects of racism but refuses to fault the racists. He cannot believe that his neighbors in small town Alabama are evil. What seems obvious to the audience and the kids is hard for him to accept. That makes him a much more complex character than I remember. I'll have to pay a visit to the book.
The play is very Aaron Sorkin. The dialogue is fast and crowded. Jeff Daniels walks (paces) and talks (cross-examines). It is much funnier than the book/movie, which works on stage, but perhaps detracts a little from the seriousness of the subject matter. The set is simple but effective. Celia Keenan-Bolger is a fine Scout, but it is a little hard to get past the full-grown woman playing a 5-year old. That goes for all the kids played by adults. There are two musicians on stage, an organ and guitar. The music is atmospheric, probably unnecessary, but adds a nice light touch for a riveting night at the theater.
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