Back at Gallo Center, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ puts racism front, center for new generation
In the past 30 years, Harper Lee’s 1960 novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” has become increasingly controversial in U.S. schools and classrooms, according to an American Library Association data analysis.
Though a classic to many, the book contains explicit references to rape, racism and drugs that irk some parents and school administrators.
Not in Modesto. Running through Oct. 8, the Gallo Center for the Arts will welcome the show back to its stage, and local students, teachers and school administrators are applauding its return.
“The content of the show is so important in terms of how our country is dealing with racism, how the book is being subject to bans across the country, and how relevant the story still is today,” said Ryan Foy, director of produced theater and special programming for the Gallo Center.
Ten years ago, the center collaborated with Prospect Theater Project to stage an adaptation of “To Kill A Mockingbird.” The play galvanized the performing arts community, helping to form the Gallo Center Repertory Company and later, the African-American theater group Sankofa. This reprise will also serve as a final bow for longtime artistic director Jim Johnson.
But for students including Daisy Brailey, 10, and Camden Van Lewen, 14, who play Scout and Jem, respectively, the play — and some of the topics within it — are all new. “It’s kind of giving me new perspective,” Van Lewen said.
“I feel like today is still racist, and it shouldn’t have been OK back then, either,” said Brailey.
Brailey’s mother also is in the show, playing Miss Stephanie, a town gossip who — like many of the other white characters — quickly resorts to racist actions as the plays unfolds. “It’s very important that my kids see that,” she said. “We’ve come far, but there’s a lot of ways we haven’t come very far.” She mentioned the death of George Floyd as a particularly salient recent reminder.
On Sunday, Oct 2., following the matinee show, the Gallo Center planned a panel discussion with Modesto NAACP President Wendy Byrd about the play’s relevance today. Student engagement will take place throughout the week, too. On Thursday, Oct. 6, the entire freshman class from Ceres High School will watch act two of the show (scheduling constraints didn’t allow for all freshmen to see both acts), and the Gallo Center has distributed free tickets to Modesto student groups.
Not one but two Modesto City Schools board members appear in the show as well. Charlene West plays Miss Maudie and John Ervin III reprises his role as Tom Robinson, the leading character whose iconic trial teaches the children of the play about the horrors of racism.
“Going all the way back to Trayvon Martin,” Ervin said, “the themes from ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ are still resonating. It’s like, learn from your past so you don’t repeat it in the future.”
