STAGE REVIEW : Basic Truths Ring Out in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ : Recognizing that themes of racism and injustice are still relevant, director Lee Clark presents the central characters with insight and compassion.

IRVINE —  As today’s headlines can attest, the racist attitudes that prompted Harper Lee to write “To Kill a Mockingbird” still exist--which is excellent reason to revive this work, currently at the Irvine Community Theater in an adaptation by Christopher Sergel.

Director Lee Clark and his cast recognize the play’s message and speak it clearly and strongly. There are some shallow, overdone performances in minor roles, but the central characters are presented with insight and compassion under Clark’s energetic guidance. He captures the languid Southern feel of the piece and at the same time keeps the rhythms dramatically viable.

Dan Lookabill is fine as attorney Atticus Finch, the only white person in town with any shred of understanding of the hatred that simmers beneath the town’s sugary surface. He raises the local wrath by defending a black man accused of raping a white woman.

Finch doesn’t reach all his fellow citizens, but he does reach the children, who form an integral part of the story’s core. Carolyn Withers as his daughter, Scout, Colin Nelson as his son, Jem, and Jonathan Turco as their young friend Dill give controlled, expressive performances.

Berni Harville is strong as the Finches’ maid, Calpurnia. As the prosecuting attorney, Jared Slater gives an excellent portrait of barely controlled bigotry, and Gina Garrison and Paul Connelly are honest and disturbing as the white trash father and daughter whose lies bring about the destruction of an innocent man. Although his stern demeanor is right for Sheriff Heck Tate, Tracy Godfrey tends to play the role on that one note only.

(There is no scenic design credit in the program, and it’s just as well, for the halfhearted, sketchily-executed scenery is hardly worth the time or trouble it takes to move it around the stage. Not that Sergel’s adaptation even needs scenery; all it really needs is evocative lighting. Sadly, Vijay Anand’s doesn’t do half of what it could.)

* “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Irvine Community Theater, Turtle Rock Community Park, 1 Sunnyhill Lane, Irvine. Fridays-Saturdays at 8 p.m., Aug. 8 & 15 at 2 p.m. Ends Aug. 21. $8. (714) 542-1306. Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes.

Carolyn Withers: Jean Louise Finch (Scout)

Berni Harville: Calpurnia

Colin Nelson: Jeremy Finch (Jem)

Gina Garrison: Mayella Ewell

Paul Connelly: Bob Ewell

Dan Lookabill: Atticus Finch

Jared Slater: Mr. Gilmer

Tracy Godfrey: Heck Tate

Jonathan Turco: Dill

An Irvine Community Theater production. Adapted by Christopher Sergel from Harper Lee’s novel. Directed by Lee Clark. Lighting: Vijay Anand.