While there’s always the excitement of seeing a brand new play or musical, the classics never fail to draw the crowds. For instance, the Hartford Stage currently has “To Kill A Mockingbird” on its stage. All of the matinees sold out, many of the seats going to school children. However, the evening shows are pretty well packed as well. I actually spoke with Michael Wilson, the artistic director at the Hartford Stage about it. “So Michael, obviously the classics work. So what are you going to do next season, “Huckleberry Finn?” I asked.

He laughed and held up his notebook. On the page were the words “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” It’s a smart move. After all, considering this economy, if a theater manages to pack the house night after night and day after day with a production like “To Kill a Mockingbird,” then why not cater to the public’s love of classics?

So what makes “Mockingbird” such a stage hit? For starters, it was adapted from a novel that  is one of the most widely read and loved American books. What is so surprising is that it was the first and only book that Harper Lee wrote and it won a Pulitzer Prize beating out other major authors. Starting out with something that already has a stellar reputation is a good start when it comes to theater.

It also has a great storyline. Described as a “tender portrait of a southern town, brimming with powerful lessons of tolerance, justice and quiet heroism,” three young children learn firsthand what racism is all about. Set in the 1930s depression, two of the children belong to Atticus Finch, a small town attorney. The other child is a friend. Indeed, the children deliver superior performances and endear themselves to the audience quickly. They really depict an age of innocence where good and bad are supposed to be obvious. That’s why they can’t understand how an obviously innocent black man is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit – the rape of a white woman.
What also puts this Hartford production over the top is the cast and creative design force. Matthew Modine makes his Hartford Stage debut here, but he’s no stranger to the audience. Many audience members have seen him in films such as: “Birdy,” “Married to the Mob,” “Vision of Quest,” “Full Metal Jacket,” and “Gross Anatomy.” He has received Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations for “What the Deaf Man Heard” as well as “And the Band Played On.”  Matthew Modine is good in the production, but a little lacking as far as emotional involvement with his children or his client for that matter. However, having star power doesn’t hurt to draw in the crowds.
Also featured in the show is Hallie Foote, daughter of writer Horton Foote. She plays the adult  Jean Louise Finch, the narrator. She has performed on Broadway in “Dividing the Estate,” and Off-Broadway in “The Trip to Bountiful.” She has received many awards including the following: Drama Desk, Obie, Lortel, and Drama League awards.
Add to all this star-studded production that Hartford Stage’s creative team is about as good as they come. Christopher Sergel adapted the stage version, which is directed by Michael Wilson. Jeff Cowie designed the set featuring a house and landscape painted on a  flat and a massive three-dimensional tree in a grassy backyard. John Gromada’s original music and sound design adds plenty of tension whenever the children venture towards mean Mr. Radley’s house and Rui Rita’s lighting design casts a soft lazy glow on the stage.
“To Kill a Mocking bird” plays at the Hartford Stage through April 4. Box office: (860) 527-5151 or visit www.hartfordstage.org.