Drama Department

Theatre Review Booklet

Name:
Olivia de Pury
Play :

TO kill a
Mockingbird
Theatre :
Gielgud theatre
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Acting (Movement, voice, interaction)

- We can also talk about the character of Tom Robinson. The actor who played Robinson held his posture very well throughout
showing himself off to be a respectable and dignified man. This was important in realising his innocence very early on and also
how although he has faced a lot of slander, he has managed to remain proud of himself.

- The interactions between each character was also very important in learning relationships. For example, the way in which
people interacted with Tom Robinson was very interesting in learning the personalities of each character. For example, a lot of
the towns people seemed to look down on Tom and would point and call him out. However Atticus always treated him with
respect and made sure that he would always shake his hand even when Tom was on trial.

- The interactions between the three children was also very important as we saw that all three of them still acted like children
even though surrounded by adult themes. For example, although they were all present throughout the rape trial, they still
managed to find hope that Tom Robinson would not be found guilt, even though it was clear throughout that it was never going
to go in his favour.

- I also found it very interesting that the director chose to leave one side of the jury complete clear even though the other side of
it was filled. For me, this conveyed that although the trial went ahead, Robinson’s to fate was completely sealed.
Directing (Use of space, pace, themes and overall style

- The directing of the play was also interesting. The use of space was key
throughout the play as we saw that status was conveyed through it. Space
was always used between characters that were on the side of the Yule’s
and Tom Robinson as they almost looked to be fraud of getting near him.
- The pace of show was even mostly throughout as the storyline unfolded
in a regular fashion, with small breaks for narration by Scout. However at
the end, a lot of events unfold in a short amount of time e.g. Scout and
Jem being attacked by Bob Ewell and Boo Radley coming to their aid.
This whole small plot went very fast and hence emphasised the shock and
speed of the events that occurred.
- The theme throughout the play were strong, with ideas of right and
wrong, agressions and power play, and relationships in such a small town.
These were all conveyed by the characters as we saw how hostile a
society it was in Maycomb, Alabama. We saw a lot of conflict between the
town citizens and saw the segregation first hand, particularly in the court
scenes.
- We saw agression as well especially in the scene outside the prison
where the men have come to drag Robinson behind one of their trucks as
punishment for the crime he didn’t commit. This anger however is soon
dispelled by Scout’s meek comments about how she knew one of the
sons of the men there.
- The style of the play was naturalistic however some Brechtian themes
were used e.g. narration. This was effective as the play’s plot was easily
followable and allowed us instead of having to concentrate on following it,
to join in on the action and form our own opinion on what’s going on.
- Following Brecht’s theme, we were very much aware we were watching a
piece of theatre and therefore it allowed us to form an analytical opinion
on it.
Lighting (Use of colour, texture, angles, effects to convey mood, scene or style)
- Good use of lighting to show the tension in the scenes. For example in the trial, the
lights were very bright helping to make it feel like the characters on stage were under
investigation and were being under pressure.
- The lighting in the first scene helped to immediately convey the feel of the play and
made us understand the serious themes addressed throughout it.
- The use of lighting in the scene where all the men came to grab Tom Robinson out
of his cell, helped show the tension and disagreements between the men and how
divided the town was. It was dim lighting which made the audience have to
concentrate harder on the action and consequently made it that much more
frightening.
- The follow spot helped to show where our attention should be and allowed us to
see where the main action was occurring.
- There was no gobos’s but there was some practical lighting effects characterising
the house and the town that they live in (a little run down and slightly behind in their
ways)

Set (Use of space, size, colours, texture, shape to convey style or scene)

- The set was powerful at converting the environment that was occurring at the
time if each scene. One of the most interesting sets was that of the trial. The set
of the trial was laced out with a massive divide between the town. Many more
characters lined Bob Ewells side with only a few standing of Tom Robinson. The
chair where the witnesses sat was placed in the middle of the stage, therefore
allowing everyone’s eyes to be on them. This made them feel more under
pressure and conveyed the sense that the rest of the town were looking down
on the defendant.
- The colours used were all plain colours helping show the slight poverty that
surrounded that part of the country in the year it was set. This made us view the
characters immediately with a different view as we saw them all as struggling
farmers in a hostile society.

Costume (Use of fabric, colour, shape to convey period, character or style)

Sound (Use of pitch, volume, texture, effects to convey mood, scene or style)

Any other notes or sketches

 set of the trial

judge
jury
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Scout
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atticus "
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audience

= roaming stage

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