Dress For Success

Atticus Finch dispensing some fatherly advice to Jem, as Dill and Scout look on.
Photo by Tom Bigwood

Dress rehearsal for To Kill A Mockingbird was a real success.  Playing before a preview audience of about 50 people, the cast really rose to the occasion.  The narrator – the adult Jean Louise Finch played by Kandi Krumins – was especially animated in bringing the audience into the story and setting up each transition.  Her younger self, Nina White as Scout, got several laughs with her innocent deadpans.   Everyone was high energy and the emotional impact of the play was palpable.  And the minimalist set served as the perfect backdrop. 

As assistant director, I found it very gratifying to see our months’ of hard work finally come to fruition.   Director Michael Schacherbauer has given the cast a solid foundation on which to build and develop their characters.   But he encourages each actor to bring their own personalities into their roles.  For example, the Finch neighbors include: Miss Stephanie Crawford, the town gossip, who is delightfully played by Blythe Philip;  Miss Maudie Atkinson, played by Pat Rodgers, who is a maternal influence on the Finch children; and Corinna Weber who is gloriously grumpy as old Mrs. DuBose as she scolds the kids incessantly.

Audiences are in for a real treat when the play opens this weekend.   Opening night is Friday September 30, and tickets are available at www.farmingtonplayers.org or by calling 248-553-2955.  Find us on Facebook at "Farmington Players" http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000154976336