Seeing To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway with my classmates last week was a wonderful experience. Just like attending the Met Opera, it was nice to go downtown and have a fancy evening. I’m really glad that Macaulay has given us the opportunity to see several shows and performances throughout this semester. What especially stood out to me about this play was the outstanding set design. The sets transitioned seamlessly from scene to scene, making the pace of the play very smooth and uninterrupted. It was interesting how the characters themselves helped move the props around, instead of stage crew members. I thought this was a good choice, keeping the cast small and having less people on stage at a time made it easier to follow.

I also found it interesting how the characters were self-aware. At several points in the play, the characters were narrating the story, rather than an actor outside of the play. Despite the topic of the play being quite dark and serious, there were several humorous moments throughout the play. This helped lighten the mood and it made the experience of watching the play more enjoyable.

Right at the beginning of the play I noticed the characters’ Southern accents. At first they seemed forced and unnatural, probably since I’m not used to hearing it here in New York. However, as the play progressed, their accents became more natural and I didn’t really notice them; they became a part of the characters. Another aspect of the viewing experience that I noticed was how high up our seats were. The curtain was down as we were getting seated, only showing the very front of the stage. I was worried that all of the action would be happening in that section, however when the curtain came up, the rest of the stage was revealed. Although I had to lean forward most of the time to see all the action, I was still able to enjoy the play and its beautiful set design. Even the warm lighting of the stage made it feel more homey and old fashioned.