Diane Fisher Post  (Miss Maudie Atkinson)
stands behind Alexandria Frisch (Jean Louise (Scout) Finch)
Oak Park Journal photo
 

Highly Recommended  OPJ

To Kill A Mockingbird, playing at Village Players in Oak Park
is treat for the whole family.  It has some wonderful ensemble
actors and some great performances by some of Oak Park’s
young and talented children.  This is the book that the city of
Chicago had chosen last year to be a book that promoted for
the entire city to read and discuss.

The black and white film version is an excellent film and this
staged version is equally as meaningful.  The same issues are
brought forward for thought and discussion.  This is also
African American History month and I am quite sure that a
real “Atticus” or two live in this region.

The young Alexandria Frisch, who is 9 years old and attends
Lincoln School in Oak Park, plays Jean Louise (aka Scout) Finch.
Alexandria Frisch worked for some three weeks, along with the
rest of the cast, in preparing for her role in this play.  She has
been interested in acting since the age of 4.  It was at that early
age that Alexandria Frisch took her first acting class at the Village
Players.  Many children have taken classes at the Village Players
and many of them have continued with their studies in the Oak
Park schools and with additional classes at Village Players.
Mr. Cunningham, played by  Fred Schutz is reminded of his 
humanity or at the least his conscious by the young Scout.  Scout
speaks to Mr. Cunningham and removes his obscured identity from
the crowd and brings it front and center (a girl of her age displays 
wisdom beyond her years).

This is a well written story and a fine job all around.  Inventive
settings and a timeless tale of ignorance, violence, and compassion.
 
 

Carl Occhipinti as Atticus Finch heads towards
the jail to ward off a lynch mob
Oak Park Journal photo

Time:1935 

Place: Maycomb, Alabama

There will be one 10 Minute Intermission

Please note: There will be a blank shot fired in this production
 

Alexandria Frisch ...as Jean Louise (Scout) Finch
Alex Haney...as Jeremy (Jem) Finch
Carl Occhlpinti...as Atticus Finch
Alice C. Brown...as Calpurnia
Diane Fisher Post ...as Miss Maudie Atkinson
Keta Roth ...as Miss Stephanie Crawford
Betty Scott Smith ...as Mrs. Dubose
Billy Simmons ...as Mr. Gilmer / Boo Radley