Mary 'Scout' Badham plays Mrs. Dubose in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' adaptation

Mary Badham has enjoyed one of the longest careers associated with "To Kill a Mockingbird," even though she basically retired from acting a few years after starring as Scout in the 1962 film, becoming the youngest nominee for a best supporting actress Oscar.

Even while working as an art restorer, married to an educator and co-raising their son and daughter, Badham has made time for celebrations of the much-loved novel and film, and to speak about its messages, including a 2001 appearance in Tuscaloosa for induction of the movie into the Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame, and a 2012 screening at the White House with President Barack Obama, celebrating the film's 50 years.

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Her big brother, director John Badham ("Saturday Night Fever," "WarGames," "Short Circuit") long ago warned her off the evolving Hollywood, and she mainly hasn't been interested anyway, except for the occasional role on request, as an adult.

But as of last year, Badham's back in "To Kill a Mockingbird," live on stage, and in a role vastly different from that of curious, big-hearted tomboy Scout.

"They called me," Badham said, in a phone interview. "I had people that I didn't know contacting them, saying they should contact me. They invited me up to see the play, and I loved it and enjoyed it.

"And I thought," she said, laughing, "that was going to be the end of it. They called back and said 'No, we would like you to come read for Mrs. Dubose.' "

The touring company, based on the 2018 Broadway adaptation by Aaron Sorkin, will play in her old hometown Nov. 14-19, at the BJCC Concert Hall. Richard Thomas stars as Atticus, a role played on Broadway by Jeff Daniels, Ed Harris and Greg Kinnear.

Badham, who turned 71 in October, plays elderly wheelchair-using morphine addict Mrs. Henry Dubose, just two doors' north of the Finch household. She lives with only a Black servant, and loudly expresses ugly sentiments, including criticism of Atticus, so Jem and Scout can't stand her. But their ever-gentle father makes a lesson, teaching them to understand something about her pain, how she's going through withdrawal, determined to kick the drug before death.

The script by Sorkin, known for TV dramas including "The West Wing" and "The Newsroom," and for his screenplays including "A Few Good Men" (adapted from his own stage play), "Moneyball, "The Social Network" and others, was not without controversy. Harper Lee died in 2016, but her estate brought legal action against Sorkin, believing the script veered too far from the book, specifically raising Atticus to the main character, rather than Scout, who narrates the book.

There were other legal concerns regarding producer Scott Rudin's attempts to shut down productions of the earlier adaptation by Christopher Sergel, which had been available for more than 50 years. Agreements were reached, and the Broadway show opened December 2018 in the Shubert Theatre, selling more than $1.5 million box office in its first week, and earning back its investment within 19 weeks. It drew nine Tony nominations. Celia Keenan Bolger, playing Scout, won the best featured actress Tony, and the same in Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards.

It suspended production in 2020 due to COVID-19, then re-opened October 2021 with the original cast, closing Jan. 16, 2022. That year it also transferred to the West End, and the national tour with Thomas began.

"It's a nice, modern take on a piece we're all very familiar with," Badham said. "It's very fast-paced, very funny. If you're familiar with (Sorkin's) work, you know he does that so well."

One way in which this adaptation differs greatly: It's non-linear, beginning with the courtroom trial of Tom Robinson, then moves back in time to flesh in details. But the essence of Lee's book remain, Badham said.

"It hits the high points of the film and the book, but the way that it's presented, it's out of time, out of sync," she said. "We start with the trial, bounce back and forth. You've got time jumps between the kids being children and being adults, looking back.

"It's all in there: single-family parenting, physician-prescribed addiction, child abuse, mental illness, racial issues, judicial issues .... These are all things that we're still dealing with, that we haven't settled with, and are worth discussion.

"My hope is it will prompt discussions, to help us grow and to become more loving, caring people."

Mrs. Dubose might garner a few talks, as to whether she deserves Atticus' and the children's attention, and respect.

"I've tried to make her as mean and ugly as I can make her," Badham said, laughing.

How the character talks gave Badham strong misgivings about the role.

"I went to some of my AA friends, because I didn't know if I could or if I wanted to do this," she said. "They said 'This is important. Just go out there and make her as real as you can, as mean and hateful as you can.' "

Badham is not a fan of foul language; in fact that was one reason she turned her back on Hollywood.

"People swear so much they don't even hear it," she said. "They don't realize the damage that it does once it leaves their mouth, and lands on ears that it hits."

Mrs. Dubose speaks one of the worst.

"I didn't know if I could say the N-word. You have to just not think about the word, just let it go out of my mouth," she said. "In this instance, it is a teaching tool. I have to use it, I have to work through it.

"I just don't let it settle in my heart."

As Mrs. Dubose, she interacts mainly with the kids, but can also be found in the courtroom, and has a sort of "drive-by" in her wheelchair.

There was just one other concern: Somewhat like her 9-year-old self auditioning for a medium she'd never worked in before, grown Mary Badham had never done theater.

"I had no idea if I could walk out there on a stage and do this. Seriously, you do stuff in school, and I've done speaking engagements for years on 'Mockingbird,' but this is so much more," she said.

"Once you get the detail of the lines down, then it's a matter of developing the character. Then there's the matter of getting up there in front of 2,000 people, or 4,000 people. Then there's the point where you start playing with the audience, and get them to start playing with you."

Badham rehearsed in New York beginning early last year, then hit the road. The tour is booked to run until at least June 30, 2024. The cast is phenomenal, she said.

"I am so honored with work with these people" she said. "Yageal (T. Welch, playing Tom Robinson) will just break your heart. Tom and Calpurnia (Jacqueline Williams) have voices for the first time.

"And you see the development of Atticus, who is rather, I would say innocent ..... He takes off his rose-colored glasses. What he thinks the world is is ripped away, and he has to deal with the reality of the way things are. You see that development happen in front of you.

"It's just been fascinating for me; it's been a real education."

Even though it's not a musical, there are still four or five 18-wheelers to haul the show around, with 30 or more people in the cast and crew.

"It is no small feat, moving these people, feeding and housing everyone on the road," Badham said, noting some have complained about the ticket prices. Tickets for the Birmingham run start at $34, but rise up above $100 for some seats.

Even with the traveling crew, locals are employed along the tour, to help run the show, assist with hair and wigs, moving sets. Badham's made it a point to meet folks, so she can get a feel for what each city and its people are actually like.

"One of the beautiful things I have heard from the locals, is 'Gosh, you guys are all so nice!' " she said, laughing.

As this will be the first run in Alabama -- the tour comes back through Huntsville and Auburn in February 2024 — Badham is intrigued to see how the Sorkin adaptation is received in the state where Lee, and her Atticus, Scout, Jem, Dill, Tom, Calpurnia, Mrs. DuBose, Boo Radley, the Ewells, and all of Maycomb, were birthed.

Some dear friends will be coming for the Birmingham run, including brother Tom, a writer and historian who lives in the Huntsville area.

"This show promotes good feelings, and it's been a good, good trip," Badham said.

The touring company of "To Kill a Mockingbird" plays in the BJCC Concert Hall in Birmingham Nov. 14-19, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Nov.-16; 8 p.m. Nov. 17; 2 and 8 p.m. Nov. 18; and1 and 6:30 p.m. Nov. 19. Tickets, $34 and up, can be found through www.ticketmaster.com. For more, see www.bjcc.org.

Reach Mark Hughes Cobb at mark.cobb@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Mary Badham goes from Scout to Mrs. Dubose in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'