All Tues., Oct. 17, 2006 LOCAL NEWS | SPORTS | LIFE & LEISURE | OPINION DEATH NOTICES LOCAL NEWS Full Forecast LATEST NEWS THE PATRIOT LEDGER THE ENTERPRISE TOWNONLINE.COM Wicked Local Towns Includes content from the Old Colony Memorial, MPG Newspapers and more. AP WORLD & NATIONAL NEWS LOCAL WEATHER LOCAL TV LISTINGS CLASSIFIEDS Announcements Automotive Employment Flea Markets Merchandise Real Estate Rentals Recreation Services Yard Sales RUN YOUR AD Business Non-Business MARKETPLACE Search MORTGAGE CENTER ONLINE DIRECTORIES Summer Guide Kids Directories Pet Directories In Time of Need DEATH NOTICES Patriot Ledger Enterprise Old Colony Memorial HOME DELIVERY Patriot Ledger Enterprise Local Town Newspapers LOCAL GUIDES Dining/Entertainment Business Profiles Home & Garden Business Directory PLYMOUTH GUIDE SPECIAL SECTIONS Living Well/Health News Wedding/Bridal Education & Training Coupons THEATER REVIEW: Norwell troupe delivers emotional ‘Mockingbird’ By JIM DORMAN For The Patriot Ledger If the quality of a play can be measured by the emotions it elicits from its audience, then the Company Theater’s Clara Baumgarten of Cohasset and presentation of Joe Siriani of Hingham share the stage as daughter Scout and father Harper Lee’s ‘‘To Kill a Mockingbird’’ Atticus Finch during Sunday’s production of “To Kill a deserves high Mockingbird” at The Company marks. Judging by Theatre in Norwell. (EMILY J. the gradual but NELSON/For The Patriot Ledger) extended and nearly unanimous standing ovation given to the actors at the end of the performance, more than a few people in attendance were moved by what they saw on stage. ‘‘To Kill a Mockingbird’’ is a story that many people are fond of. But that doesn’t mean presenting it is a surefire proposition. Actually, it probably means just the opposite. People who have read the book or seen the movie will not be happy if they are not satisfied with the portrayal of their favorite characters and scenes. Fortunately, this production delivers the goods when it comes to acting and execution. Longtime fans will be happy with the performance and neophytes will get a worthy introduction. | SPECIAL REPORTS | WORLD NEWS NKorea: Sanctions are declaration of war 2 killed, 60 hurt in Rome subway crash Paris Protests IRAQ Mideast politics Hamas profile NATIONAL NEWS 'Micro' quake rattles North Carolina Cal joins Northeast global warming fight Obituaries in the news People in the News Ohio coin dealer lays out defense SPORTS March Madness BASEBALL Baseball: Team previews GOLF NASCAR 2006 NASCAR Drivers Mets, Cards to play game 5 tonight Bears rally to edge Cards, stay unbeaten Piniella coming to Wrigley, manage Cubs For those who are not familiar with ‘‘To Kill a Mockingbird’’ ENTERTAINMENT or just need their memories refreshed, it’s the story of Atticus Finch, a middle-aged widower and lawyer who is Fabolous stable after raising his two young children in the fictional town of Manhattan shooting Maycomb, Ala., in 1935. Finch is committed to teaching his Bindi Irwin to star in wildlife daughter Scout (Clara Baumgarten) and her older brother series Willis gets Hollywood Walk Jem (Danny Tobin) the importance of having compassion and understanding for all people. He tells them, ‘‘You never of Fame star really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk MORE WORLD & US NEWS: around in them.’’ But when Finch decides to defend Tom Robinson (Raphael Rawlins), a young black man who has POLITICS been accused of raping a white woman, their capacity for BUSINESS practicing tolerance will be severely tested. Harper Lee’s one and only novel won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1960. The well-known movie, starring Gregory Peck in his Oscar-winning performance as Atticus Finch, premiered in 1962. Christopher Sergel’s stage adaptation came along in 1970. Although it included a grown-up Jean Louise ‘‘Scout’’ Finch as narrator, the Company Theater’s version does not. It still works fine, but the first act did seem contextually confusing, and even surreal. Perhaps this dreamy recollection of childhood would have worked better had it been framed by Scout’s narration. HEALTH TECHNOLOGY OFFBEAT STORIES China university requires golf lessons Dog saves owner, dies trying to save cat Leak leads to hidden room at ex-hotel Ads by Google Patriot Ledger Atticus Review Script Coupons ONLINE PERSONALS SOUTHOFBOSTON.COM Archive Contact Us Work for Us Newspapers in Education Home Page FEATURED ADS PLYMOUTH, MA Wicked Local Classifieds Read more... HINGHAM, MA Home Center - Sothebys International Realty Home Center - Sotheby's International Realty Read more... A different choice that works out more positively for this production is the placement of the first-act intermission. It happens before the courtroom scene rather than in the middle of it, resulting in a second act that flows much more smoothly. Hingham’s Joe Siriani has the difficult task of playing Atticus Finch. Those are big shoes to fill, but Siriani’s a big man and a strong actor. His steady portrayal is as consistent as his character, making it easy to get chills when the Rev. Sykes (Roderick Wilmore) and the other blacks show their respect by standing up when Atticus leaves the courtroom. AP INTERACTIVE Baumgarten is a delight as 6-year-old Scout, a tomboy who is full of questions and the confidence to ask them. Scout may not know much yet, but she sure is paying attention. Baumgarten is effective at playing Scout’s innocence when she unknowingly shames Walter Cunningham (Steve Dooner) out of attempting to lynch Robinson. Juliana Dennis as Stephanie Crawford and Cinda Donovan as Maudie Atkinson play Atticus’ more enlightened neighbors. They provide hope amid the darkness, and Dennis was actually quite funny. Jennifer Duval White provides more darkness as the mean and intolerable Mrs. Dubose. 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Free Quotes! www.statefundinsurance.com The Patriot Ledger 400 Crown Colony Drive P.O. Box 699159 Quincy, MA 02269-9159 (617) 786-7000 CONTACT US Gerry Bova as Bob Ewell and Jean M. McNamara as Mayella Ewell turn in superb performances as the poor father and daughter. He’s as despicable as she is pitiable. Steve Shannon is sleazy as the obviously bigoted prosecuting attorney, Mr. Gilmer. George Kippenhan provides the last poignant moment for this story as Arthur ‘‘Boo’’ Radley, a man whom the children are at first afraid of. They learn that he is just one more person who they need to learn to understand. When Scout takes Boo’s hand, thanks him and walks him into their home, it’s just one more opportunity for the audience to reach for their handkerchiefs before the final curtain call. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD The Company Theater, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell. Last weekend and 8 p.m. Oct. 20, 21, 27, 28; 3 p.m. Oct. 15, 22, 29; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19, 26. 4 p.m. Oct. 28. Tickets $20-$22; 781-871-2787, companytheatre.com. Copyright 2006 The Patriot Ledger Transmitted Monday, October 16, 2006 Abbott Homes Boston Norwell Homes Luxury 55+ Condominium Homes Free MLS Search: Updated MA at The Pinehills, Plymouth, MA Real Estate. 1.4M Photos, Maps, www.setonhighlands.com More! www.ZipRealty.com Ads by Google Boston Musical Boston theater ticket discounts. Reviews and more. Sign up for free! www.theatermania.com Massachusetts Insurance State Fund - Auto Insurance in Massachusetts. Free Quotes! www.statefundinsurance.com Advertise on this site