[NEohioPAL] Canal Fulton Players- To Kill a Mockingbird a Success

[DVangaasbe at aol.com]

There are many times when you finish a play or a  musical that you hug the 
actors and shake hands with the crew and forget to tell  the public really 
how successful the play actually was.  To the cast, crew,  patrons, and 
general public, To Kill a Mockingbird which was presented by the  Canal Fulton 
Players on March 1-3, 8-10 at the SALT Box Ministries in Canal  Fulton was a 
major artistic and business success.  
I would like to thank the leads Chuck Cover (Atticus  Finch), Rufus Malone 
(Tom Robinson), Jack Yoak (Bob Ewell), Katelyn Zeitz  (Scout), and Kyle 
Zeitz (Jem) for all of their hard work for making the leads so  believable.  
Chuck's rendition of Atticus' final summation mesmerized me so  much one night 
that I almost forgot to help Tina Thompkins get on stage.   He made people 
forget that Gregory Peck won an Academy Award for the  part.
What can be said about Rufus?  He made Tom  Robinson so believable that 
Jack Yoak, who played the villainous Bob Ewell got a  standing boo from the 
audience during the curtain call.  Rufus kept the  cast loose as we approached 
opening night.  When informed by this director  that Tom was going to lose 
again, Rufus stated, "I want Tim Misny." (I  will make them pay). 
Katelyn, who is thirteen, was a delight as Scout and  more than matched her 
alter ego, Jean Louise Finch, played by Amiee Jarzenski,  in presenting a 
character.  You honestly believe that Scout actually  matured to Jean Louise, 
who narrated the story.  Katelyn is actually a  thirty five year old woman 
trapped in a thirteen year old body.  Amiee had  a difficult part because 
she had to narrate and did not interact with the  characters.  She was 
absolutely wonderful.
Katelyn's brother, Jem, acting only for the second  time, brought a great 
deal of warmth to the part especially when he forges a new  relationship with 
one of the most delightful and opinionated actresses of our  time, Carol 
Zeh, who played the old rebel Mrs. Dubose.  Carol, who taught  English for 
thirty years at Perry High School in Stark County, Ohio and taught  the story 
all during that time, was Mrs. Dubose.  Her advice during  consultations was 
invaluable as she brought differing perspectives to the  story.  
Jack Yoak was born to play Bob Ewell.  Normally,  a mild mannered character 
actor who brings warmth to his characters, Jack  totally was great as the 
abusive, racist, lying, etc etc Bob Ewell.  As  stated above, he received a 
standing boo from the  audience.
Juliana Freisen (Dill) was so convincing playing a boy  that the audience 
gasped when she removed the wig to show that she had long  locks of hair.  
Juliana had to learn and talk like a boy and she listened  very well.  
I never felt that they showed Mayella Ewell as a  sympathetic character in 
the movie version.  Bobbi Norman played the part  so well that there were 
tears in several people's eyes when she testified  against Tom Robinson.  
Bobbi made Mayella, a difficult part to  conceptualize, very believable.
Special thanks goes to Tina Thompkins, who played  Calpurnia, the loving 
but strict housekeeper for the Finch Family.  Tina  came in with one week of 
rehearsal to go to take over the part.  She had  just finished performing in 
Flying West at Weathervane on a Sunday afternoon  when she began rehearsing 
for this play on that Sunday evening.  I  personally would like to thank the 
people at Weathervane for getting the  emergency message to Tina, who came 
in with total  professionalism.
I will miss teasing Miss Maudie (Geri Marken) and Miss  Stephanie (Denise 
Robb).  They learned their parts so quickly that we  normally conversed while 
they were still in character.  They both were  excellent members of the 
cast and one of my directors for another play stated  that they were so good 
during the trial scenes that he watched them perform even  though they had 
only one line between the two of them for thirty seven  pages.  
I will also miss working with Tyler Brewer (Walter  Cunningham), Travis 
Dudley (Mr. Gilmer) and Wally Thieshen (Linc Dees) who  though they made it 
interesting at times performed well when the call  came.  They were excellent 
support players.
Also, I cannot stop talking about Jim Barnes as Judge  Taylor and Gary 
Liknes as Heck Tate.  Jim was so good as the judge that  when Gary announced 
that court was in session and that the gallery on stage  should rise to 
attention when the judge entered, some members of the audience  rose.  Gary's 
dignified approach as the sheriff was so good that when he  says, "I may not be 
much Mr. Finch, but I'm still the sheriff of Maycomb  County," I wanted to 
state, "No! you're more."  Thank you gentleman for  bringing the dignity to 
the court that it richly deserves.
And what can be said about our small parts.   Julie Ovendorf as the bigoted 
child, Laura Haines as the child who loves to see  Scout get in trouble, 
Mary Kocsis who plays the court stenographer, and George  Dorer who plays a 
member of the mob and the jury foreman, played their parts so  well that they 
helped the leads set the stage for the dramatic conclusion to  this 
wonderful story.
And what can be said about Drew Hutchinson who played  Boo and Nathan 
Radley.  Drew was excellent in the scene where he saves the  children from the 
murderous attacks of Bob Ewell.  
I want to thank my support staff and crew.   Debbie Liknes on lights, Emily 
Liknes on sound, Ike Canfield, Connor Lenhart and  Kevin Henderson as stage 
crew did everything without a hitch.  Everyone  except Kevin is a young 
teenager.  When we needed them they were  there.  
The same can be said as to Josh Rowe (Assistant  Director), Debbie Haines 
(Costumes and props), George Dorer (Lighting  supervisor), Dan Graves and 
Gary Liknes (Sound supervisors), Joe Pasternak (set  design), Sharon Burnley 
(prompter), the box office people, the concession  people, and everyone else 
who made this wonderful story a treasure.  
Special thanks is being given to Debbie Haines and  Marcus for their 
wonderful cooking for the two dinner theatres.  I would  also like to thank the 
people who all worked hard for making those two dinners  memorable.  
Also special thanks goes to the SALT Box Ministries  for being gracious 
hosts and to the Canal Fulton UMC for allowing us to use  their space during 
early rehearsals.
I love the story of To Kill a Mockingbird.   Gregory Peck is one of my 
favorite actors.  I was hesitant to take this  play on because of its legendary 
status.  However, the cast and crew made  this a very memorable project and 
it ranks as one of my best efforts as a  director.  I thank you all and to 
the general public and our patrons, we  will be seeing you again in May for 
our Night of Music and Comedy and in June  for Romeo and Juliet.
 
Dave Van Gaasbeek
Executive Producer and  Director
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