The Words, November 2015
Going to the Guthrie
By Sarah Richman ’16
Many of us have read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, but a few weeks ago English majors and minors plus some lucky friends got the chance to see it live. The English Honor Society sponsored a trip to the beautiful Guthrie Theater in downtown Minneapolis to see this literary classic performed onstage.
The production, adapted from the novel by Christopher Segel and directed by John Miller-Stephany, was well worth the few hours of unfinished homework. That was a common feeling as we stepped out of the bus and gazed up at the gorgeous Guthrie Theater, and as as we all marveled at the set that met us inside. Wooden house fronts faced inward, creating an intimate and believable town setting complete with a swing from the rafters above.
Director John Miller-Stephany portrayed this powerful story with an incredible cast to match. The young performers who played Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch, and Charles Baker “Dill” Harris showed adult-size talent as they held their own on the To Kill a Mockingbird stage, eliciting deep thoughts as well as laughs. “Usually, said attendee Daniel Bell-Moran ’16, “the character of Atticus steals the show…this time around it was Scout, whose rambunctiousness was hilarious and captivating at the same time.”
The English Honor Society followed up with a post-theater lunch discussion the next day. Students enjoyed pizza with English professors Matt Burgess, Benjamin Voigt, and Penelope Geng. The group came together to reflect on the production and learn more about the novel, its author, and the complex racial and legal contexts surrounding the story. “I really enjoyed Matt’s mini-lectures on Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird,” said English major and newsletter editor Kevin Xiong ’16. “He had just taught the novel for a class, and I felt he was able to lead the group towards discussion-rich scenes and characters.”
The English Honor Society is serious about literature, but we are also serious about having a good time. This came through in the casual and welcoming atmosphere at the discussion. “I appreciated how participatory all the English majors were,” Kevin said. “There was definitely a sense of openness and discovery throughout the talk. Instead of feeling academic, the lunch felt friendly and social.”
Overall, the To Kill a Mockingbird adventure was a great success. “The English Honor Society wants people to have exciting, meaningful conversations about literature,” said English Honor Society member and officer Svitlana Iukhymovych ’16, “and To Kill a Mockingbird definitely ignited some. We also just want English majors to have fun, get to know each other, and get a sense of life outside of the Macalester bubble.” That, Svitlana and the rest of the English Honor Society will be happy to know, is exactly what happened.