Warren’s Drama Production presented a remake of To Kill a Mockingbird, written by student Christopher Sergel, on Saturday, March 31, at the Emerson Theater to display their artistic ability. The play ran for six shows, with Saturday being the sixth and final. The cast enjoyed a fully filled theater, and the same phenomenon occurred for the five previous shows as well.
Warren’s rendition of To Kill a Mockingbird lived up to the hype that surrounded it. Beautifully constructed, the set affected a completely authentic look, and the audience could easily be pulled into the performance because of it. The props—live gunfire, for example—added to the sense of realism, along with the music and background noises. The actors, however, stole the show.
While the stage and the lighting all added to the impressiveness of the show, Drama’s acting abilities were well suited for the severity and drama of the novel, and they expertly brought the book to life on stage. Surprisingly, the cast was largely comprised of underclassmen. Of the cast of eighteen, only four were upperclassmen, and of the three leading roles two were occupied by freshman. Scout, portrayed by senior Nicole Jackson, was just as fierce and vivacious as her fictional counterpart.
“I’ve been acting for a long time,” Jackson said. “It’s not my first time, and I’ve actually been a part of ‘Noises Off’ and ‘Dining Room.’”
Jackson’s passion obviously transcends the limitations of her age. Jackson says she’s acted for a long time, and it is clearly evident that she has grown a lot in such a small amount of time. The role of Jem Finch was also portrayed by a freshman, Javier Fernandez. Fernandez also faces the sticky problem of his youth. The cast, however, managed to overcome this obstacle with flying colors.
Casting began in October and rehearsals started in November, lasting all the way through Mar. Their tough rehearsals obviously paid off, for the show was an astounding success that blew away audiences.
“I wasn’t afraid of being chosen as the lead,” Rodriguez said. “I was very confident that I could be Jem, and he was my favorite character in the novel.”
The remake stuck to the novel for the large part, and the final scene was as powerful and lasting as it was in the book—perhaps more so, because it is seen.
“I really enjoyed the play,” Junior John Fernandez said. “I had not read the novel before, but this feels just as real as if I had read it. It was really good.”
Warren’s drama group will hopefully continue their success with their next play, a remake of Arthur Milling’s All My Sons.
