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Stage West's 'Mockingbird' holds attention with compelling performances, story

 
Isabel Cuevas (Scout) and Sam McCall (Atticus Finch) rehearse a scene from To Kill a Mockingbird recently at the Stage West Community Playhouse in Spring Hill.
Isabel Cuevas (Scout) and Sam McCall (Atticus Finch) rehearse a scene from To Kill a Mockingbird recently at the Stage West Community Playhouse in Spring Hill.
Published Jan. 22, 2015

To Kill a Mockingbird is not an "action" play. It's a thought-provoking, often subtle, generally gentle play packed with bone-rattling themes and implications. It takes deft guidance and a perceptive cast to pull it off, and the production playing weekends through Jan. 25 at the Forum at Stage West Community Playhouse impresses mightily in both categories.

Based on Harper Lee's 1960 book of the same name, Mockingbird revolves around a small-town attorney, his family and his neighbors in the town of Maycomb, Ala., before, during and after a 1935 trial of a black man, Tom Robinson (a splendidly convincing Steve Muriel) — casually, repeatedly and often loudly called "n - - - - -" by the populace. Tom has been wrongfully accused of raping a white woman, without one scintilla of physical evidence, and is fighting for his life.

Director Patricia Villegas' remarkable cast is anchored by Sam McCall, who plays the softspoken attorney Atticus Finch, who is reluctantly, but dutifully defending Tom. McCall's mild, easy manner and serene Southern accent make his observations on human nature go straight to the heart.

Though court-appointed attorneys are usually young and needing both the experience and the fee, and 50-year-old Atticus is pushing toward the end of his career, the insightful Judge Taylor (Rich Fogg) knows he can be trusted by the townspeople to do the right thing, even if they themselves are not willing to do so.

And what people they are, from the widower Atticus' two young children — the tomboyish, inquisitive Scout (a bright-eyed, spunky Malia Bolster) and football-crazy Jem (a mature, serious Chay Nott) and their visiting friend from Mississippi, the imaginative, creative Dill (played with wisdom and tenderheartedness by Anthony Aulicino), to the snarling, raucous, no-good Bob Ewell (Matthew Hunt, making his Stage West debut), the father of the alleged victim.

Hunt gives such a credible performance as Ewell, the abusive, racist town drunk, in fact, that he was actually "booed" during the opening-night curtain calls — before he was given a respectful ovation.

Watch, too, for Dorothy Ferguson as Calpurnia, the Finches' loving housekeeper/cook. Ms. Ferguson is delightful as the devoted Cal, but listen for the few notes she sings with Rev. Sykes (Bernard Morris Jr.). That's a thrilling voice if ever there was one. Also of note is the ever-dependable Gary Depp as Sheriff Heck Tate. Depp is a gifted actor who totally inhabits any character he plays.

Simone Samson Bratcher is moving as Miss Maudie, the Finches' neighbor, supporter and narrator of the story. Ms. Bratcher's warm voice and comforting physical appearance are just right for this pivotal role, and she handles it with confidence and poise.

Marissa Piccinich plays alleged victim Mayella Ewell with a mix of defiance, fear, bewilderment and ignorance that arouses pity and disgust in equal measure. Cheryl Roberts' Miss Stephanie is solid as the town gossip (tip of the hat to Patty Watters' makeup, too); Sherry Fogg affecting as the mean Mrs. DuBose; George Friel pitiable as the perplexed farmer Mr. Cunningham; and Sam Petricone realistic as the prosecutor, Mr. Gilmer.

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Ms. Villegas' set design is a marvel, taking advantage of every square inch of the small Forum stage, and making total set changes so quick that the audience is almost unaware they're being made, thanks also to adroit lighting by Misty and Russ Hornsby and stage managing by Ellen Hutt.

Scheduled performances are almost sold out, so those interested in seeing this remarkable production would be wise to buy tickets as soon as possible.