When our Stage Manager, the delightful Bessie Edwards, called me into her office a few days before the read through of Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird, she pointed at me and said, Boo! I then told her, “Bessie, it’s mid December, Halloween is over!” She then ups me by saying, “No, you’re going to be our Boo!” I was astonished! I had originally been assigned to be in the ensemble, but to take on a role once played by Robert Duvall, his first movie gig ever, sign me up!
I first read To Kill A Mockingbird freshman year of high school. Back then I was emotionally touched during the trial scene and by the character of Boo Radley. I carefully studied the dialogue of the play and the novel over the next couple of weeks after I heard of the change in my role. I focused on Jem and Scout’s descriptions of Boo in the book and the history of the Radley family. To be the hero (aside from Atticus Finch (Vic Clark) in this play is just a dream to me. Altering my physical movement to stiff arms, slanted shoulders, a tilted head and a crooked right foot, I am enjoying the transformation into Mr. Arthur Radley. Typically, I am very use to portraying characters who show outlandish physical gestures on stage, and to bring down the physical comedy and adapt to barely lifting a finger while still creating powerful moments onstage has been a great challenge to pursue.
(Resident Actor Andy McCain as Arthur “Boo” Radley)