Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird is universally acclaimed as one of the best American novels of the 20th century, and the Oscar-winning film version of her book, released in 1962, was one of America's best and most popular films. Atticus Finch, as portrayed by Gregory Peck, was named the number one hero in film by the American Film Institute. With honors such as these you have to wonder why anyone would have the audacity to adapt it for the stage, but playwright Christopher Sergel did, and it is now playing at Olympia's Harlequin Theater. The stage adaptation is not as good as the book or the movie, but it is much better than a whole lot of what gets performed on stages nowadays. And with all the whoop-de-do surrounding the release of Lee's Go Set a Watchman - which tells the story of Atticus and his headstrong daughter, Scout, from a different viewpoint (Scout grown up) - there could be no better time to offer this timeless classic.

Three outstanding child actors burn up the stage with their portrayal of 1930s Southern kids. Eight-year-old Loren Kattenbraker plays Jean Louise, aka Scout, the young girl who narrates the story in both book and movie, but not the play. Kattenbraker is stunningly expressive and loveable. Nick Hayes, a seventh grader who has already built himself an impressive acting resumé with performances all over the South Sound (he was recently in Oklahoma at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theater), plays Scout's big brother Jem. You couldn't ask for a better performance. And finally, Fifth grader Annabelle Samson plays Dill, and she is delightful. She is absolutely believable as the precocious kid who dares Jem to take risks such as throwing rocks at the home of Boo Radley (Morgan Picton), a recluse the kids believe is crazy and possibly dangerous.

Many of the best actors to grace South Sound stages fill out the adult parts in this play.

Aaron Lamb may not be Gregory Peck, but he takes on the role of Atticus Finch with conviction, playing his strengths and his weaknesses alike with nuanced acting. Scott C. Brown inhabits the role of Sheriff Heck Tate. He presented the sheriff as a dedicated and simple man who does his job without letting his personal feelings get in the way. Helen Harvester turns in an award-worthy performance as the emotionally crippled Mayella Ewell, the woman who was supposedly raped by the black man Tom Robinson (Robert Humes). Harlequin favorite Russ Holmes plays Bob Ewell, Mayella's father who falsely accused Tom of raping his daughter. In the hands of a lesser actor, this character would have come across as a bad parody of a dumb, bigoted redneck, but Holmes manages to play the part totally over the top yet believable.

Other actors who are outstanding are stand-up comedian Morgan Picton, who plays two very different characters - the public prosecutor and Boo Radley; and David Wright, also plays two quite different characters - the poor farmer Walter Cunningham and Judge Taylor. Humes is fabulous in his heart-wrenching portrayal of Tom Robinson.  

Edsonya Charles has a small but well-acted part as the Finch's maid, Calpurnia. Ann Flannigan plays a great Maudie Atkinson, Atticus Finch's neighbor who narrates the story with sly and wise comments about the residents of the small Georgia town that is being ripped apart by the trial. I must say here that I loved Maudie as a fictional character, but I did not think the use of a narrator was needed at all - this being one of two instances wherein the playwright deviated in a not-good way from the book and movie. The other instance was when, right in the middle of the trial of Tom Robinson, the action freezes and two of the kids walk down from the balcony and down to the edge of the stage and have a conversation that is not exactly pertinent to the story.

The set by Jeannie Beirne, costumes by Darren Mills, and lighting by Amy Chisman, are all wonderful.

To Kill a Mockingbird is 2 1/2 hours long with a 20-minute intermission. It includes mature content and racially-charged language.

To Kill a Mockingbird, Thursdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m. through Sept. 12, Harlequin Theater, 202 E. 4th Ave., Olympia, ticket prices vary, call for details, 360.786.0151, www.harlequinproductions.org/