March 23, 2019
It is a sin to kill a mockingbird, or so I learned from attending the Broadway play last night. It is also a sin not to have read the book, which I am guilty of. Don’t ask, but I will blame it on all of my junior and senior high school teachers. In their defense, I may have read it, but I have no recollection. I don’t think I have even seen the movie starring Gregory Peck either. Both of those omissions will soon be rectified. I am not a theater critic so I will not attempt to critique the actors, the script, the sets, or the stage direction. The question I had going in, however, was why Aaron Sorkin decided to make this story by Harper Lee his initial foray onto the Broadway stage. Now I know.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is an allegory for our times. The issues it raises are still with us today. Virulent racism is one of the central themes. There is a destructive tension between the have’s and the have-nots. There is a feeling of condescension between classes based on education and job status. There is a legal system biased against African-Americans. Domestic abuse is right there for all to see. The killing of Tom Robinson was central casting for Black Lives Matter. It is depressing to think about how little progress we have actually made.
Harper Lee and Aaron Sorkin leave us with hope, however. Atticus Finch is a flawed, but noble man. He tries to get it right. Maybe he is Bob Mueller. He eschews guns despite being the best shot in town. The message comes through with several examples that we need to spend time in another man’s skin before we can really understand them. People will constantly surprise you if you take the time to get to know them. Violence is not the answer. Dialogue and communication are, and this is what Aaron Sorkin and Jeff Daniels excel at. Mr. President, if you want to see the play, I will buy you a ticket
The Spin Doctor 