To Kill A Mockingbird - Gielgud

[sfsusan]

One other heads-up for people attending, Shaftesbury Avenue is partially closed for works of some sort (until the second week of April or thereabouts), so if you take a taxi and can't walk any distance, let your driver know as I think they can thread through some side streets to get decently close.

[kentwilliam]

Saw this tonight for £15.00 so should have been a bargain. Have read the book and seen the film. For anyone who has ever seen the TV series Chimera (“I don’t like wee-wee”), the kid acting was equally appalling here. Poor production- seemed to go off track and the last 15 minutes really badly staged. I’m
Not sure what went wrong but the court room didn’t seem
like the main event - would not recommend.

[barelyathletic]

I saw it last night and thought it was very good. Not brilliant. Well acted and a strong adaptation of a courtroom drama, as you'd expect from Aaron Sorkin. It seemed very new and real rather than an adaptation of a very familiar novel. Rafe Spall did a good job as Atticus finding something different from Gregory Peck's defining performance in the film. I liked the fact that the play made him flawed and less of a saintly white saviour, while also giving a stronger voice to Calpurnia and Tom Robinson. And I was surprised that it didn't hold back in its representation of the racist language of the time. It is quite a shock to hear 'that' word used so freely and I thought it would have been watered down, but I felt it was quite brave of them to show it as it was. Patrick O'Kane (very good) must always be wondering how the audience will react. I particularly liked David Moorst (brilliant in Violence and Sons a few years back at the Royal Court) as Dill and Gwyneth Keyworth as Scout. The set generally moves smoothly in and out and is very effective at representing several different locations. Even though I know the story well I was never less than gripped. At certain points I was genuinely moved and it all flew by. Four stars from me.

[wiggymess]

Could someone who has seen this please do me a favour and tell me how much bad language there is in this?

Appreciate it's a bit of a silly question but it's my Mum's favourite book and I'm considering getting her a ticket for mother's day, but she's fairly sensitive to a very high volume of bad language, bless her.

[Jon]

Mar 18, 2022 13:27:35 GMT wiggymess said:

Could someone who has seen this please do me a favour and tell me how much bad language there is in this?

Appreciate it's a bit of a silly question but it's my Mum's favourite book and I'm considering getting her a ticket for mother's day, but she's fairly sensitive to a very high volume of bad language, bless her.

I assume the bad language isn't effin and jeffin but more racial slurs.

[sfsusan]

It depends on what you consider bad language... the 'n' word is thrown around by one character in pretty much every single sentence. I don't believe there's any cursing, just slurs and insults.

[Jon]

Saw To Kill a Mockingbird tonight and have to say I really enjoyed it. I am familiar with the source material but Aaron Sorkin and Bartlett Sher have made a play that sadly feels relevant even in 2022 but nonetheless is still thrilling theatre.

The cast are excellent especially Gwyneth Keyworth, David Moorst and Harry Redding who excel as Scout, Dil and Jem balancing being the narrators and the characters. Rafe Spall is very good as Atticus Finch especially in the court room scenes as is Patrick O'Kane as Bob Ewell. Interestingly, O'Kane is also cover Atticus Finch which would make very interesting viewing if he gets the chance to go on as Atticus.

I think this will have a healthy run once the reviews come in, it was pretty much a full house tonight.

[lichtie]

Just a reminder that the TodayTix 15 quid offer for April has started for those interested.

[drmaplewood]

Mar 22, 2022 8:32:08 GMT lichtie said:

Just a reminder that the TodayTix 15 quid offer for April has started for those interested.

Cheers for the reminder!

[cavocado]

Mar 22, 2022 8:32:08 GMT lichtie said:

Just a reminder that the TodayTix 15 quid offer for April has started for those interested.

Thanks for that. Just got some good stalls seats for £15.

[Being Alive]

Thanks for the reminder - got a great stalls seat for a Friday. Saves the hassle on rush!

[callum]

Had middling expectations but even these weren’t met… overall disappointed.

Two fundamental issues - firstly that Scout, Jem & Dill being played by 30yo+ adults just does not work, and secondly that the way that the script is written (by removing Scout as narrator) makes them generally disconnected from the trial. Found the tension between Atticus and the maid far more interesting.

Also with Scout and Dill in particular their American accents were truly appalling. With a two year delay to opening I was expecting a lot more!

On the plus side, I liked the production design (although slightly repetitive) and Ann Roth’s costumes, and the audience generally well behaved with minimal inappropriate laughter!

[thistimetomorrow]

Really enjoyed this tonight. The time zipped by and we were so surprised at how late it was by the time we got out.

[Mark]

Absolutely stunning. Sounds like they’ve tightened it a bit as it zipped along so fast and finished in 2:50. Was front row and the stage was high but great value for a £15 rush seat - I didn’t miss anything sitting in the centre.

[edi]

Apr 2, 2022 20:27:36 GMT Mark said:

Absolutely stunning. Sounds like they’ve tightened it a bit as it zipped along so fast and finished in 2:50. Was front row and the stage was high but great value for a £15 rush seat - I didn’t miss anything sitting in the centre.

Hi Mark, is the stage higher than usual - I mean is there an elevation for this production? I'm usually good with the Gielgud.

I don't seem to be getting lucky with rush. They tend to introduce new tickets throughout the day but I noticed there are much fewer double seats than single tickets.

[Mark]

Apr 2, 2022 21:06:12 GMT edi said:

Apr 2, 2022 20:27:36 GMT Mark said:

Absolutely stunning. Sounds like they’ve tightened it a bit as it zipped along so fast and finished in 2:50. Was front row and the stage was high but great value for a £15 rush seat - I didn’t miss anything sitting in the centre.

Hi Mark, is the stage higher than usual - I mean is there an elevation for this production? I'm usually good with the Gielgud.

I don't seem to be getting lucky with rush. They tend to introduce new tickets throughout the day but I noticed there are much fewer double seats than single tickets.

It is definitely higher than usual, mostly likely due to the set coming up from the stage at certain points. As I said, from the central most seats you shouldn't have an issue. I could just about see the Judge when he was seated (I'm a tad over 6ft). 

[Jon]

I wonder if we'll get a new Atticus from August? Wouldn't mind Rhys Ifans playing the role as he was originally cast.

[floorshow]

Thoroughly enjoyed this at yesterday's matinee. Sorkin's re-structuring works well and the tweaks to Atticus' character make sense. I had a few misgivings when Spall took over from Ifans but he's great - really sells that blind optimism and he's very good at gently drawing the crowd in with some well aimed eye contact.
Some of the ambiguity introduced by the ending feels a bit unnecessary and counter-productive but overall there's a lot to like and the way the kids are used keeps it all bobbing along nicely.
Everyone on their feet at the end, deservedly so.

[andrew]

Apr 14, 2022 12:10:53 GMT floorshow said:

Thoroughly enjoyed this at yesterday's matinee. Sorkin's re-structuring works well and the tweaks to Atticus' character make sense. I had a few misgivings when Spall took over from Ifans but he's great - really sells that blind optimism and he's very good at gently drawing the crowd in with some well aimed eye contact.
Some of the ambiguity introduced by the ending feels a bit unnecessary and counter-productive but overall there's a lot to like and the way the kids are used keeps it all bobbing along nicely.
Everyone on their feet at the end, deservedly so.

Snap! Also at this performance. It's interesting, it's a very different take to the Gregory Peck version that I have burned so deeply in my soul as the one true Atticus, that it took a bit of getting over for me. It's a fine, fine performance, but he's a quicker and louder Atticus Finch than has existed for me in the book and the film. I would have loved to see Ifans and I wondered more than once how he would have been doing this, but as I say it's great work from Spall all the same. I also thought the adults playing the kids did remarkably well, I remember David Moorst (Dill) playing a very different character in Shopping and f***ing a few years ago, now that's versatility.

I'm fairly sure the moments where I was moved to tears were motivated as much by a strong adolescent connection to the source material as they were a well crafted play, but that at least proves they did not trample on a beloved tale, and it is a very worthy and fruitful adaptation. Just like you floorshow, I thought the ending to be the weakest part adapted, and I didn't think Scout's monologue that closes the show did the rest of the thing justice. This is weird because I'm such a Sorkin fan (and, not for nothing, I enjoyed spotting all his usual Sorkinisms along the way - how many more dozen times can he use the "... I think the fact that I want to please you pleases you" parable before he retires) and I think Sorkin is better at writing gripping and solemn conclusions than that. It's a minor niggle though in an overall great script. It's a long play but it zips along, the structure gives it continued interest and pacing, and whilst the set was a little bit fussy in the grand scheme of things I really liked the inclusion of the musicians at the front, as if we were watching all this be played out in front of us in an Alabama community hall.

I got a terrific premium seat through the TodayTix rush, would highly recommend jumping onto that for anyone who doesn't have a ticket.

[partytentdown]

The following item was in the Popbitch newsletter this week... And I saw it happen on Thursday night! He snapped his fingers to something in the front of the Stalls, I couldn't see what it was from my seat in the Grand Circle...

"Rafe Spall is currently working out his frustrations at people using their phones during performances of To Kill A Mockingbird by snapping his fingers at, and directing lines right to, members of the audience he spots scrolling."

[sfsusan]

Apr 15, 2022 7:20:19 GMT partytentdown said:

"Rafe Spall is currently working out his frustrations at people using their phones during performances of To Kill A Mockingbird by snapping his fingers at, and directing lines right to, members of the audience he spots scrolling."

And those people are probably clueless enough to be texting "OMG, Rafe Spall just directed a line right at me!"

[Stephen]

Well I haven’t cried in a theatre for a long time. Found this very moving. It took a little while for me to get into it (My stalls row D ‘all rise’ seat had a really hard upright back which didn’t help) but once I did I only got more hooked as the evening progressed. The stories of Spall clicking sound convincing, he caught my direct eye a few times which was unnerving.

I was really impressed with Rafe Spall and to be honest the entire cast. Was moved by Jude Owusu’s performance as Robinson. The understudy was on for Scout tonight - she was amazing. I didn’t get a programme so unfortunately can’t name her but maybe someone can!

I agree about the coda being unnecessary but I was in tears but then so it really didn’t matter to me.

The theatre were also selling traditional sweeties in little boxes which I felt were the perfect companion to the play!

All Rise. 5*

[n1david]

I saw it last week and the understudy was on for Scout, it was Anna Munden. I thought she was excellent, I never felt that I was seeing something less than the planned show.

[drmaplewood]

Was there last night and agree that Munden was superb, didn't realise it was an understudy until we were leaving.

[david]

Well, this was a really good night at the theatre tonight. Aaaron Sorkin and Bartlett Sher have done a great job at bringing Harper Lee’s classic novel to the stage. When I first heard that there was going to be an adaption of this much loved novel, I hoped that there wouldn’t be too much changed from the novel and after tonight I certainly left happy with what I watched.

With the Gregory Peck film being such a classic adaptation, I was certainly keen to see what sort of take Rafe Spall would have with the character of Atticus Finch. I’ll admit it took a while for me to get into it as there seemed to be far too much humour present that I certainly don’t remember from either the novel or the film, but certainly the play won me over in the court room scenes, particularly in Act 2 which hit the mark. Rafe’s portrayal is certainly different from Peck’s version and from my own thoughts about what kind of man Finch is in the novel but one that I enjoyed watching. From where I was sitting in row P Of the stalls, I don’t think this production win everyone over as after the interval there where a few empty seats. This is a real shame as I thought Act 2 was the better Act with more dramatic tension and emotion than Act 1 provided.

I did have some pre-show doubts about having adults playing the kids as I thought the play might lose something by going down this route but within the first few minutes of the play, those doubts disappeared and actually worked well. All three actors were great, but a big shout out to David Moorst as Dill. Having seen him in both the WE and in the Manchester REX and has always been a great watch, I think he was terrific here and a definite highlight of this show. He is from my neck of the woods in St Helens so it’s great to see a local lad treading the WE stage.

I thought the staging was effective and liked the use of the two on stage musicians which worked well. Pacing wise, it was fine and it was certainly an engaging play and kept me thoroughly entertained.

My only criticism of the play and I agree with andrew ’s thoughts on this was Scout’s monologue at the end. I don’t think it really added anything to the proceedings and lessened the impact of the final scenes. It could of been binned without any detriment to how the play ends. As a fan of Sorkin’s writing as well, particularly on the West Wing, I was hoping he would of written a better ending with a bit more punch to it than what was written here.