Open/Close Toolbox
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 New Zealand License
Format: Photo
Linked To
CollectionRelated items
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 New Zealand LicenseThis licence allows you to download this work and share it with others as long as you mention us and link back to us, but you cannot change it in any way or use it commercially.
Menu
Photos - School Production of "To Kill a Mockingbird" 2002
Expand/collapse
About
DescriptionSchool Production of "To Kill a Mockingbird"
15 to 17 August 2002
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird remains a favourite with the reading public. It was recently voted the fifth most popular novel of the twentieth century by the readers of the Modern Library. When I stumbled across Christopher Sergei's stageplay adaptation in a book display at the school, I thought it would be a good play to stage for a number of reasons. Firstly, it offered challenging roles for both boys and girls. Secondly, I thought it might attract audiences, especially college students who had studied, or were studying, the novel. Thirdly, it presented a challenge to the director.
In those initial planning stages, I was unaware of the full extent of that challenge. The ban on extra-curricular activities after school by the Auckland region of the P.P.T.A meant that I had to scuttle between schools at lunchtimes for two weeks to get through rather hurried auditions. Shortly after we had started with rehearsals, union action intensified and a new extra-curricular ban was made nation-wide. Because we had a group of enthusiastic students ready and waiting to rehearse, because the theatre was not available at any other stage and because we had, by this stage, paid for the performing rights, an exemption was sought and gained from the P.P.T.A. The play could proceed - ‘legitimately’!
Rehearsals started at the end of May, and most of the early rehearsals (including the week of rehearsals during the mid-year break) were scheduled in the upper pavilion, as the theatre was booked. This was not an ideal venue, but we were grateful for a space and began our work in earnest. The students who were cast in the play were, in many cases, fully committed to other sports and activities, and it became a real challenge to have a full complement of players at rehearsals. This was achieved on comparatively few occasions, and this made it difficult for the cast to focus as well as they could have.
There were times when this lack of focus caused a little friction between some of the cast members and the director, but generally the twenty-four individuals pulled together as a team, especially in the last week or so, and all was then forgiven! There was a great deal of talent in the cast, and some very challenging roles. Matthew Walls played Atticus Finch, and he progressed considerably during rehearsals to produce a plausible father and lawyer. Ben Clark played Bob Ewell, and did so with aplomb! Richard Milsom displayed much talent in his portrayal of the imaginative Dill, or Charles Baker Harris. One of the students who developed most during the season was, perhaps, Joshua Williams, who played Jem and invested much time, effort and talent in the role, creating a very distinctive and interesting characterisation. I wish we had filmed his first rehearsal and the final performance! Cameron Roberts played the sheriff, and did so well, while Rajiv Sharma made a thoroughly likeable victim out of the character of Tom Robinson. Anton Tennet made an excellent state prosecutor, Adam de Hamel a most suitable judge and Luke Telford a very believable Mr Cunningham. Other boys in the cast were Neel Bhowmick, James Pethica, Andrew Speir, Jony Gabriel, Simon Lewis, Alisdair Hungerford-Morgan and Ben Walls. My thanks and congratulations to them all.
Naturally, we were grateful for the wealth of talent available to us from Epsom Girls’ Grammar. Many of the girls’ performances were outstanding, and the girls were, without exception, a pleasure to work with. We are indeed lucky to be able to work so well with a girls’ school in such close geographical proximity, in a field where such co-operation is imperative.
Shortly after the July holidays, we moved into the theatre for rehearsals and the last lap. Here we were grateful for the invaluable help from Dr G. Gillard, for his set construction; Mr W. Brinsley, for his technical input; Mr J. Gibbs, for his backstage organisation; Mr M. Poulsen for his help with props and backstage supervision; and Mrs L. Rawlinson for her work on costumes. A parent, Mrs D. Maher, came in to supervise make-up, and for her services, too, we were most grateful.
Also, a team of dedicated students moved in to manage the backstage work, under the supervision of a very competent and thoroughly pleasant stage-manager, Daniel Street. To Daniel and his crew, we express not only our sincere gratitude, but our sincere admiration! I was relieved that some of the calls depended on his decision rather than mine!
Finally it came to performance week. Here it must be mentioned that the publicity agent, Mrs C. Henderson, achieved nothing short of a miracle. She filled the matinee (with one hundred on the waiting-list) two weeks before the booking actually opened! For all her sterling work behind the scenes, I am most grateful, as I am to Mrs A. Hellens (and her band of helpers) who took charge of selling tickets and front of house. To any staff or students who helped in any way; our sincere thanks.
The run was successful. We’ll try to forget the forgotten entry on the Friday night, leaving our youngest actors frozen on stage for a couple of agonising minutes; and the tree which was knocked over and fell across the stage during the matinee, much to the amusement of three hundred and fifty college students! Opening night and closing night, at least, were as near perfect as we would ever manage. Congratulations and thanks to ALL concerned. A show well done and a worthwhile exercise.
- MR L. RICE (DIRECTOR)
Year2002
15 to 17 August 2002
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird remains a favourite with the reading public. It was recently voted the fifth most popular novel of the twentieth century by the readers of the Modern Library. When I stumbled across Christopher Sergei's stageplay adaptation in a book display at the school, I thought it would be a good play to stage for a number of reasons. Firstly, it offered challenging roles for both boys and girls. Secondly, I thought it might attract audiences, especially college students who had studied, or were studying, the novel. Thirdly, it presented a challenge to the director.
In those initial planning stages, I was unaware of the full extent of that challenge. The ban on extra-curricular activities after school by the Auckland region of the P.P.T.A meant that I had to scuttle between schools at lunchtimes for two weeks to get through rather hurried auditions. Shortly after we had started with rehearsals, union action intensified and a new extra-curricular ban was made nation-wide. Because we had a group of enthusiastic students ready and waiting to rehearse, because the theatre was not available at any other stage and because we had, by this stage, paid for the performing rights, an exemption was sought and gained from the P.P.T.A. The play could proceed - ‘legitimately’!
Rehearsals started at the end of May, and most of the early rehearsals (including the week of rehearsals during the mid-year break) were scheduled in the upper pavilion, as the theatre was booked. This was not an ideal venue, but we were grateful for a space and began our work in earnest. The students who were cast in the play were, in many cases, fully committed to other sports and activities, and it became a real challenge to have a full complement of players at rehearsals. This was achieved on comparatively few occasions, and this made it difficult for the cast to focus as well as they could have.
There were times when this lack of focus caused a little friction between some of the cast members and the director, but generally the twenty-four individuals pulled together as a team, especially in the last week or so, and all was then forgiven! There was a great deal of talent in the cast, and some very challenging roles. Matthew Walls played Atticus Finch, and he progressed considerably during rehearsals to produce a plausible father and lawyer. Ben Clark played Bob Ewell, and did so with aplomb! Richard Milsom displayed much talent in his portrayal of the imaginative Dill, or Charles Baker Harris. One of the students who developed most during the season was, perhaps, Joshua Williams, who played Jem and invested much time, effort and talent in the role, creating a very distinctive and interesting characterisation. I wish we had filmed his first rehearsal and the final performance! Cameron Roberts played the sheriff, and did so well, while Rajiv Sharma made a thoroughly likeable victim out of the character of Tom Robinson. Anton Tennet made an excellent state prosecutor, Adam de Hamel a most suitable judge and Luke Telford a very believable Mr Cunningham. Other boys in the cast were Neel Bhowmick, James Pethica, Andrew Speir, Jony Gabriel, Simon Lewis, Alisdair Hungerford-Morgan and Ben Walls. My thanks and congratulations to them all.
Naturally, we were grateful for the wealth of talent available to us from Epsom Girls’ Grammar. Many of the girls’ performances were outstanding, and the girls were, without exception, a pleasure to work with. We are indeed lucky to be able to work so well with a girls’ school in such close geographical proximity, in a field where such co-operation is imperative.
Shortly after the July holidays, we moved into the theatre for rehearsals and the last lap. Here we were grateful for the invaluable help from Dr G. Gillard, for his set construction; Mr W. Brinsley, for his technical input; Mr J. Gibbs, for his backstage organisation; Mr M. Poulsen for his help with props and backstage supervision; and Mrs L. Rawlinson for her work on costumes. A parent, Mrs D. Maher, came in to supervise make-up, and for her services, too, we were most grateful.
Also, a team of dedicated students moved in to manage the backstage work, under the supervision of a very competent and thoroughly pleasant stage-manager, Daniel Street. To Daniel and his crew, we express not only our sincere gratitude, but our sincere admiration! I was relieved that some of the calls depended on his decision rather than mine!
Finally it came to performance week. Here it must be mentioned that the publicity agent, Mrs C. Henderson, achieved nothing short of a miracle. She filled the matinee (with one hundred on the waiting-list) two weeks before the booking actually opened! For all her sterling work behind the scenes, I am most grateful, as I am to Mrs A. Hellens (and her band of helpers) who took charge of selling tickets and front of house. To any staff or students who helped in any way; our sincere thanks.
The run was successful. We’ll try to forget the forgotten entry on the Friday night, leaving our youngest actors frozen on stage for a couple of agonising minutes; and the tree which was knocked over and fell across the stage during the matinee, much to the amusement of three hundred and fifty college students! Opening night and closing night, at least, were as near perfect as we would ever manage. Congratulations and thanks to ALL concerned. A show well done and a worthwhile exercise.
- MR L. RICE (DIRECTOR)
Year2002Details
CollectionSchool Productions and ConcertsRelated itemsProgramme - School Production of "To Kill a Mockingbird" 2002CategoryCelebrations & Events | Cultural | School Productions
Related itemsProgramme - School Production of "To Kill a Mockingbird" 2002CategoryCelebrations & Events | Cultural | School ProductionsEditing is temporarily disabled
Cancel Edit
Click on the image to add
a tag or press ESC to cancel
a tag or press ESC to cancel
Photos - School Production of "To Kill a Mockingbird" 2002. Auckland Grammar School Archives, accessed 30/11/2023, https://ags.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/9078