Truths Aren't Always Easy, Daniels Finds
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Daniels reprises the role of Atticus Finch in Wagon Wheel Theatre's production of "To Kill A Mockingbird" now through Aug. 16. He last played the role in 1996, his first year of performing at the Wagon Wheel.
"To Kill a Mockingbird", by Harper Lee, consistently ranks near the top of the American Library Association's list of 100 most frequently banned books, according to tolerance.org Most complaints involve the use of language, now considered racially offensive, including the N-word. The book, published in 1960, deals with racism and rape.[[In-content Ad]]"Mockingbird" takes place during the Great Depression in a fictional Alabama town. Scout Finch, 6, the narrator, lives with her older brother, Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus, an attorney.
Scout and Jem befriend a visiting boy named Dill. Together, the threesome are intrigued and scared by their neighbor, the reclusive Boo Radley.
Atticus is assigned to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. For Atticus's decision to defend Tom to the best of his ability, his children are taunted by others. Atticus must also defend Tom against a lynch mob.
Daniels said the book absolutely is as relative today as when it was published. "I read the book when it first came out, and I've been rereading it since we started rehearsals," he said.
The book is one of the Great American novels, he said. "This is a truly great book. I'm also amazed to see how much of the book they actually got into the play. They got the main story and the flavor of the story into the play."
At the heart of the book is love and compassion, but also violence and brutality, Daniels said. Those same qualities run through our great nation. He said we are a nation of love and compassion, but with a history of slavery and racism, we are also a nation of violence and hate.
"The play is as American as it can be, and as universal as it can be," Daniels said.
The book, he said, has been translated to countless number of languages around the world. That signifies that there's something in the book that appeals to readers around the world. It has something everyone can understand.
Daniels said he also thinks men like Atticus Finch still exist today.
"Absolutely," he said, "and we keep hoping our leaders will be one of those men."
As the cliché goes, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Atticus is able to avoid corruption in the story, Daniels said, because of his wisdom, humility and compassion that seem to override any corruption.
"Those men and women exist. They are few and far between," he said.
People must not become complacent, however, when it comes to race relations. With Barack Obama being the first black man to be nominated for U.S. president by one of the two major parties, that can be seen as a step forward. But, Daniels said, he never hears of the advancement of the Native Indians. There are still issues with Hispanics in the community.
"We have to make sure we don't make people good guys or bad guys because of their race," said Daniels.
He said a man like John McCain can be a leading example. McCain was a prisoner of war who had the integrity and depth of character to remain a POW with his comrades when he could have been freed. Daniels said he still has a hard time fathoming someone choosing to stay captured in that situation.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton once said, according to Daniels, that the distance between how far things are and where they should be will always be great. "To Kill A Mockingbird" is a call to close that gap. People can not rest on their laurels. Whether it's race, poverty or abuse, there's people in dire straits who need help from others, Daniels said. Art calls for compassion for others.
Art is something Daniels has been doing since he was a high school junior "a long time" ago, he said.
In 1996, he came to Warsaw to play Atticus in "Mockingbird." One of his students at the time got Daniels in touch with Artistic Director Roy Hine. Hine died in 2007. Like many of the shows this season, "To Kill A Mockingbird" is in tribute to Hine.
"It's hard to talk about him without getting choked up," said Daniels.
Jim and his wife, Pat, who also appears in "Mockingbird," have done a combined 18 shows at WWT over the past 12 years. Jim said they both adored Roy and were devastated to learn of his death.
"My wife still breaks into tears over him," Daniels said.
It is a tribute to Hine, he said, that the current WWT leadership is able to keep the theater going. Hine had put the talent in place to do that.
When he's in the theater, Daniels said, he will sometimes look over at the wall where Hine stood and still feel his presence.
"All who knew him miss him tremendously," said Daniels.
Hine, he said, was a brilliant, smart and compassionate man.
To order tickets for "To Kill A Mockingbird", call 574-267-8041, toll free at 866-823-2618 or visit online at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com
Daniels reprises the role of Atticus Finch in Wagon Wheel Theatre's production of "To Kill A Mockingbird" now through Aug. 16. He last played the role in 1996, his first year of performing at the Wagon Wheel.
"To Kill a Mockingbird", by Harper Lee, consistently ranks near the top of the American Library Association's list of 100 most frequently banned books, according to tolerance.org Most complaints involve the use of language, now considered racially offensive, including the N-word. The book, published in 1960, deals with racism and rape.[[In-content Ad]]"Mockingbird" takes place during the Great Depression in a fictional Alabama town. Scout Finch, 6, the narrator, lives with her older brother, Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus, an attorney.
Scout and Jem befriend a visiting boy named Dill. Together, the threesome are intrigued and scared by their neighbor, the reclusive Boo Radley.
Atticus is assigned to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. For Atticus's decision to defend Tom to the best of his ability, his children are taunted by others. Atticus must also defend Tom against a lynch mob.
Daniels said the book absolutely is as relative today as when it was published. "I read the book when it first came out, and I've been rereading it since we started rehearsals," he said.
The book is one of the Great American novels, he said. "This is a truly great book. I'm also amazed to see how much of the book they actually got into the play. They got the main story and the flavor of the story into the play."
At the heart of the book is love and compassion, but also violence and brutality, Daniels said. Those same qualities run through our great nation. He said we are a nation of love and compassion, but with a history of slavery and racism, we are also a nation of violence and hate.
"The play is as American as it can be, and as universal as it can be," Daniels said.
The book, he said, has been translated to countless number of languages around the world. That signifies that there's something in the book that appeals to readers around the world. It has something everyone can understand.
Daniels said he also thinks men like Atticus Finch still exist today.
"Absolutely," he said, "and we keep hoping our leaders will be one of those men."
As the cliché goes, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Atticus is able to avoid corruption in the story, Daniels said, because of his wisdom, humility and compassion that seem to override any corruption.
"Those men and women exist. They are few and far between," he said.
People must not become complacent, however, when it comes to race relations. With Barack Obama being the first black man to be nominated for U.S. president by one of the two major parties, that can be seen as a step forward. But, Daniels said, he never hears of the advancement of the Native Indians. There are still issues with Hispanics in the community.
"We have to make sure we don't make people good guys or bad guys because of their race," said Daniels.
He said a man like John McCain can be a leading example. McCain was a prisoner of war who had the integrity and depth of character to remain a POW with his comrades when he could have been freed. Daniels said he still has a hard time fathoming someone choosing to stay captured in that situation.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton once said, according to Daniels, that the distance between how far things are and where they should be will always be great. "To Kill A Mockingbird" is a call to close that gap. People can not rest on their laurels. Whether it's race, poverty or abuse, there's people in dire straits who need help from others, Daniels said. Art calls for compassion for others.
Art is something Daniels has been doing since he was a high school junior "a long time" ago, he said.
In 1996, he came to Warsaw to play Atticus in "Mockingbird." One of his students at the time got Daniels in touch with Artistic Director Roy Hine. Hine died in 2007. Like many of the shows this season, "To Kill A Mockingbird" is in tribute to Hine.
"It's hard to talk about him without getting choked up," said Daniels.
Jim and his wife, Pat, who also appears in "Mockingbird," have done a combined 18 shows at WWT over the past 12 years. Jim said they both adored Roy and were devastated to learn of his death.
"My wife still breaks into tears over him," Daniels said.
It is a tribute to Hine, he said, that the current WWT leadership is able to keep the theater going. Hine had put the talent in place to do that.
When he's in the theater, Daniels said, he will sometimes look over at the wall where Hine stood and still feel his presence.
"All who knew him miss him tremendously," said Daniels.
Hine, he said, was a brilliant, smart and compassionate man.
To order tickets for "To Kill A Mockingbird", call 574-267-8041, toll free at 866-823-2618 or visit online at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092