Ever wondered what Calpurnia was thinking and feeling, during the events that took place in “To Kill a Mockingbird”? The Finch family housekeeper is an important figure in Harper Lee’s novel, but she’s not outspoken on matters of race and social justice, and we certainly never see her take Atticus Finch to task.
Aaron Sorkin, a playwright and screenwriter, gives Calpurina a much stronger voice in his theater adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” now touring the country after a successful Broadway run. It’s a major change to Lee’s storyline, and this new, tell-it-like-it-is Calpurnia has been hailed by actors and theatergoers alike for her blunt honesty.
Jacqueline Williams, a Chicago-based actress with a long list of credits in theater, TV and film, is in Birmingham this week, portraying Calpurnia on the “Mockingbird” tour. She’s part of a cast that includes Richard Thomas as the upright lawyer Atticus Finch, and Birmingham native Mary Badham as the Finches’ mean-spirited neighbor, Mrs. DuBose. The show opened here on Tuesday at the BJCC Concert Hall, and will run through Sunday, Nov. 19.
READ: Richard Thomas on ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ tour: ‘To do it in the South is absolutely thrilling’
Williams shared her thoughts on Sorkin’s play, and the pivotal role of Calpurnia, during a phone interview with AL.com. Here are some excerpts from that conversation, lightly edited for length and clarity.
When you were asked to play Calpurnia in Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” what was your reaction?
Jacqueline Williams: It was a no-brainer. I was absolutely, positively 500 percent interested. I’m a lifelong fan of the book and the film. They’ve both been favorites of mine for most of my life, and I just never imagined this kind of live theater event treatment done on the story. So yes, I was very excited, right from the jump.
Calpurnia is a force to be reckoned with in Sorkin’s play, and she has a chance to speak her mind, especially in her conversations with Atticus, where the go two go toe-to-toe. What are your thoughts on that?
Aaron Sorkin has greatly fleshed out the role of Calpurnia, as well as Tom (Robinson, the Black man defended in court by Atticus). One of the wonderful things in this live event, one of the many wonderful things about the fleshing out of Calpurnia, is her having more of a voice, especially for brown people. They finally, after decades, are getting a chance to hear what they wanted to hear from her.
How does it feel playing such an iconic character in literature and film?
I never thought about it that way, because iconic is not anything one can play. It really isn’t. So none of that ever, ever popped into my head at all. My main thing was (Calpurnia) connecting to Atticus, our relationship is really the central relationship, and foundation of this live event. So my whole thing was finding my relationship with Atticus. I was a lifelong fan of Mr. (Gregory) Peck’s, but my Atticus is Richard Thomas, so that’s the relationship I had to form, that I had to find and build. Of course, we hit it off right away and it was no work at all. And to find my relationships with Scout and Jem.
Melanie Moore as Scout Finch, left and Jacqueline Williams as Calpurnia in the national tour of "To Kill a Mockingbird." (Courtesy photo/Julieta Cervantes)
Does Sorkin’s play give us new talking points for “Mockingbird,” new things to consider and discuss?
The relationship between Calpurnia and Atticus will be new and fun and fulfilling (for audiences). But in terms of the other characters, I wouldn’t say so much. And that’s part of the reason we’re still out here, because this story is still needed and we have made very little progress and we still have a lot of work to do. These characters, what’s happening, the events that are taking place, the injustices that are taking place, are not from an era long ago. They are still right now. And that’s why this story is still quite relevant.
Does it have any special meaning or resonance for you to perform “To Kill a Mockingbird” in Alabama?
It does, absolutely. A lot of history there in Alabama, particularly in Birmingham, good history and bad history. I still think about a lot of it quite often, and it’s not forgotten. It’s still felt.
Any thoughts on having Mary Badham, the original Scout in the 1962 movie version of “Mockingbird,” as part of the cast, playing Mrs. DuBose?
The analogy that Richard (Thomas) came up with is perfect, and really how we feel: In a way, she’s sort of our good luck charm that we have in tow on this tour. It’s a really wonderfully beautiful thing to have her with us, and definitely full circle for her. It’s pretty special.
READ: ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ star on Atticus Finch, book bans and her Alabama hometown
Theatergoers have said that Aaron Sorkin’s writing style is evident in the script, and audience members who know his work will be reminded of it while seeing “Mockingbird.” Do you agree?
He has not abandoned Miss Harper Lee’s story or the feel, temperature of the storytelling, but he is just that brilliant that he was able to do this adaptation and absolutely still honor her story and her voice. It’s truly a brilliant gift. You will hear and feel both. There’s a certain kind of rhythm, tempo, to a lot of his stuff, but it works well, because there’s a certain rhythm and tempo and musicality to Southern dialect anyway. It’s really quite a beautiful marriage.
It’s still the same story. It’s not quite laid out the same way in Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation, and I think that’s exciting for an audience. It’s this story they know but it’s not always unfolding in a linear way.
It’s a serious play, but there’s humor, too, correct?
People who come are surprised by how much laughter there is. There truly is a lot of laughter, a lot of joy, and still a lot of nostalgia, and wonder, and discovery. And there is pain, and there are tears. But there’s also hope. It’s really a beautiful full evening at the theater.
When people come up to you after the show, is there one thing they always say to you? One comment you always get from audience members?
Mainly that they have been really enjoying the character of Calpurnia. Calpurnia has a lot of zingers that Mr. Sorkin has so greatly placed in her path, so often there is some comment about her wit and her timing, and all that kind of thing.
Melanie Moore, left, as Scout Finch and Jacqueline Williams as Calpurnia in the national tour of "To Kill a Mockingbird." Photo by Julieta Cervantes(Courtesy photo/Julieta Cervantes)
What’s the thing you’d like audiences to leave with after they see the show? What would you like them to be thinking about?
The main thing I hope audiences leave with is conversation — if not only with each other, with themselves. And reflect on what have they done in their past to make things better. What can they do moving forward to make things better? That is my greatest hope, because if we can get to some place of just having some common respect and understanding — or an attempt at understanding each other — that will take us a long, long way to progress. That will take us quite far.
Are we making progress in the theater with strong, important roles for Black women to play?
We are trying. I must say, as one who often plays those roles, it’s not for a lack of those roles always existing, it’s getting them produced. But there has been progress. Not enough, but there has been progress for sure.
IF YOU GO: The national Broadway tour of “To Kill a Mockingbird” comes to Birmingham on Nov. 14-19 at the BJCC Concert Hall. Eight performances are planned that week, Tuesday through Sunday. Prices range from $34-$129, plus service charges, via Ticketmaster. The series is presented by American Theatre Guild at the 3,000-seat concert hall, which is part of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex downtown. The concert hall is off 11th Avenue North, between 19th and 22nd streets North.
In 2024, “To Kill a Mockingbird” will stop in Auburn at the Gogue Performing Arts Center (Feb. 13-14) and in Huntsville at the Von Braun Center Concert Hall (Feb. 16-18).