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I went to see To Kill a Mockingbird on Tuesday 30th June 2015. A night to remember.
To Kill Mockingbird
Tuesday 30th June 2015
I can't believe it's today and tomorrow I will have seen Robert Sean Leonard at the Barbican Theatre in To Kill a Mockingbird. I am going with a friend I worked with for years and we still go out together. She doesn't know who RSL is and she's never watched House, so she's the voice of reason to my total euphoric state. The journey to London was relatively uneventful except for the last 45 mins when I developed serious motion sickness. The train was a Virgin Pendolino and they tilt a lot. I've since read lots of people feel nauseous but it's never happened to me before.
If you really only want to know about the play, just scroll down to where it says - it begins.
Anyway no trouble getting to the Barbican City Thistle Hotel where were staying the night. It was HOT in the 90s. We are having a mini heatwave in the UK, but I live in the North of England and it never gets quite as hot as the South. After a bit of recovery time we decided we would get ready and go down to the Barbican (neither of us had been before) and stay there until it was time to go into the theatre. We had a good look around, found the theatre entrance and I saw a shop and I bought a CD of the Mockingbird music performed by Phil King. Time goes by so fast when you want things to slow down but it was getting later and we decided to have a drink or two and something to eat. It was lovely we sat outside by the water but as I said seriously hot. The place began to fill up with theatre goers and in what seemed like no time they opened the theatre doors.
It begins here:
We entered theatre left although we were in the middle really. There is no centre aisle just left and right entrances. After sitting down I took this pic of the stage. It's was dark so not very clear. I also took a pic from where we sat to the stage and it gives some idea of how near we were. A lot of dialogue and action does
take place on the steps. Then I got scared and thought I'd better not take anymore just in case I got into trouble.
Suddenly from either side came all the actors carrying their copies of the book and they went up the steps and began reading from the book. Phil King sang and the children came on stage and it began. They all draw the map, with chalk, on the stage floor showing where everyone lives. I know the play quite well and of course I have read what others have said about the play. I knew RSL would enter left side and I knew it was further on in the play. That said, I just caught this shadowy figure with a trilby hat emerge and I knew he was about to come on stage. I heard this deep familiar voice shout "Jem" and up the steps and onto the stage came Robert.
I can't really describe what I felt. It sort of took my breath away. I remember thinking this is a real person and I am so near to him. I couldn't take my eyes off him and it was like there was only this one person in the midst of the others and although the play carried on I was totally mesmerised by Atticus. Note, I say Atticus because Robert was Atticus, I believed that from the very first moment. He plays that part for real and I'm sure he is able to do so with such feeling is in no small part due to having his own daughters. As I watched him I found myself, in my mind, going through the most weird scenarios.......what size of shoes is he wearing?......carrying his briefcase left-handed (I am too).......listening to that southern drawl........and even more bizarre ( apologies in advance to Discofunction), who in recalling the Open Air Theatre production said his bum was in her face where she sat in the front of the steps, well I thought I'll check that out!!....... could go on and on. The children really feature in this first act and they were brilliant. At the interval my friend remarked on how good the children were and Atticus as well she added. I should think so!
The second act is mostly the courtroom scene and the one I think RSL really shows what a terrific actor he is. You can feel his emotions palpably and when he gives his closing speech, summing up in defence of Tom Robinson he walked down a couple of the steps and faced the audience as we were the jury. It's a very powerful moment one of those times when hairs stand up on the back of your neck. I love that he took off his jacket and rolled his sleeves up to make this speech. You could almost feel the passion in his words tinged with a sort of weariness with way of things.
At one point after the verdict Bob Ewell walked right up to him and spat in his face and there was a huge gasp from the audience. It looked real to me but that's acting!
The ends scenes were very moving and you could feel the love he had for his children and Boo. When he says "thank you for my children" there were tears in his eyes and in everyone else's.I knew that it was nearly ending and I didn't want it too. There was a standing ovation and RSL looked really happy. I have to say it's something that will live with me forever. I am suffering from acute RLS post dramatic stress disorder. I keep having flashbacks of scenes and RSL creeping in from the side of the theatre. And, yes to all of you who follow on this site, he is everything you think he is and more. It's been one of the most exciting and fulfilling times in my life (honest), something I will always remember. The day Robert Sean Leonard was only that far away from me and I loved it.
After
We went back the hotel. Shattered because it had been a long day. I couldn't sleep my mind was full of RSL and everything that had happened that night. It played over and over in my mind. He was exactly what I thought he would be. The hair is OK too for those concerned. I never thought I would see him and I have.
The following day we got the train from London and I was still excited about it all. It was still hot in the 90s and I again felt terrible motion sickness and the air conditioning packed in. It was like being in a glass box. No windows to open. So Robert I'd like you to know I suffered for you but it was worth every moment and I hope I get to do it again in the future.
I think the play will be a great success it's very topical with the follow up book out this month and I hope RSL is recognised for his role as Atticus Finch in something like the Olivier Awards. He deserves to be acknowledged in the UK for his stage work.
I didn't see the production at the Open Air venue but I image it's possibly a different atmosphere to it but I loved this and my friend thought it was brilliant too and she agreed with me that RSL a great actor and she praised the whole cast but especially the children. So I don't think my account is too biased, it was the opinion of another as well.
This was the write up in the programme.
This was my ticket. Yes I really did go.
To Kill Mockingbird
Tuesday 30th June 2015
I can't believe it's today and tomorrow I will have seen Robert Sean Leonard at the Barbican Theatre in To Kill a Mockingbird. I am going with a friend I worked with for years and we still go out together. She doesn't know who RSL is and she's never watched House, so she's the voice of reason to my total euphoric state. The journey to London was relatively uneventful except for the last 45 mins when I developed serious motion sickness. The train was a Virgin Pendolino and they tilt a lot. I've since read lots of people feel nauseous but it's never happened to me before.
If you really only want to know about the play, just scroll down to where it says - it begins.
Anyway no trouble getting to the Barbican City Thistle Hotel where were staying the night. It was HOT in the 90s. We are having a mini heatwave in the UK, but I live in the North of England and it never gets quite as hot as the South. After a bit of recovery time we decided we would get ready and go down to the Barbican (neither of us had been before) and stay there until it was time to go into the theatre. We had a good look around, found the theatre entrance and I saw a shop and I bought a CD of the Mockingbird music performed by Phil King. Time goes by so fast when you want things to slow down but it was getting later and we decided to have a drink or two and something to eat. It was lovely we sat outside by the water but as I said seriously hot. The place began to fill up with theatre goers and in what seemed like no time they opened the theatre doors.
It begins here:
We entered theatre left although we were in the middle really. There is no centre aisle just left and right entrances. After sitting down I took this pic of the stage. It's was dark so not very clear. I also took a pic from where we sat to the stage and it gives some idea of how near we were. A lot of dialogue and action does
take place on the steps. Then I got scared and thought I'd better not take anymore just in case I got into trouble.
Suddenly from either side came all the actors carrying their copies of the book and they went up the steps and began reading from the book. Phil King sang and the children came on stage and it began. They all draw the map, with chalk, on the stage floor showing where everyone lives. I know the play quite well and of course I have read what others have said about the play. I knew RSL would enter left side and I knew it was further on in the play. That said, I just caught this shadowy figure with a trilby hat emerge and I knew he was about to come on stage. I heard this deep familiar voice shout "Jem" and up the steps and onto the stage came Robert.
I can't really describe what I felt. It sort of took my breath away. I remember thinking this is a real person and I am so near to him. I couldn't take my eyes off him and it was like there was only this one person in the midst of the others and although the play carried on I was totally mesmerised by Atticus. Note, I say Atticus because Robert was Atticus, I believed that from the very first moment. He plays that part for real and I'm sure he is able to do so with such feeling is in no small part due to having his own daughters. As I watched him I found myself, in my mind, going through the most weird scenarios.......what size of shoes is he wearing?......carrying his briefcase left-handed (I am too).......listening to that southern drawl........and even more bizarre ( apologies in advance to Discofunction), who in recalling the Open Air Theatre production said his bum was in her face where she sat in the front of the steps, well I thought I'll check that out!!....... could go on and on. The children really feature in this first act and they were brilliant. At the interval my friend remarked on how good the children were and Atticus as well she added. I should think so!
The second act is mostly the courtroom scene and the one I think RSL really shows what a terrific actor he is. You can feel his emotions palpably and when he gives his closing speech, summing up in defence of Tom Robinson he walked down a couple of the steps and faced the audience as we were the jury. It's a very powerful moment one of those times when hairs stand up on the back of your neck. I love that he took off his jacket and rolled his sleeves up to make this speech. You could almost feel the passion in his words tinged with a sort of weariness with way of things.
At one point after the verdict Bob Ewell walked right up to him and spat in his face and there was a huge gasp from the audience. It looked real to me but that's acting!
The ends scenes were very moving and you could feel the love he had for his children and Boo. When he says "thank you for my children" there were tears in his eyes and in everyone else's.I knew that it was nearly ending and I didn't want it too. There was a standing ovation and RSL looked really happy. I have to say it's something that will live with me forever. I am suffering from acute RLS post dramatic stress disorder. I keep having flashbacks of scenes and RSL creeping in from the side of the theatre. And, yes to all of you who follow on this site, he is everything you think he is and more. It's been one of the most exciting and fulfilling times in my life (honest), something I will always remember. The day Robert Sean Leonard was only that far away from me and I loved it.
After
We went back the hotel. Shattered because it had been a long day. I couldn't sleep my mind was full of RSL and everything that had happened that night. It played over and over in my mind. He was exactly what I thought he would be. The hair is OK too for those concerned. I never thought I would see him and I have.
The following day we got the train from London and I was still excited about it all. It was still hot in the 90s and I again felt terrible motion sickness and the air conditioning packed in. It was like being in a glass box. No windows to open. So Robert I'd like you to know I suffered for you but it was worth every moment and I hope I get to do it again in the future.
I think the play will be a great success it's very topical with the follow up book out this month and I hope RSL is recognised for his role as Atticus Finch in something like the Olivier Awards. He deserves to be acknowledged in the UK for his stage work.
I didn't see the production at the Open Air venue but I image it's possibly a different atmosphere to it but I loved this and my friend thought it was brilliant too and she agreed with me that RSL a great actor and she praised the whole cast but especially the children. So I don't think my account is too biased, it was the opinion of another as well.
This was the write up in the programme.
This was my ticket. Yes I really did go.