Courtroom drama onstage this weekend

Panola Playhouse actor Mike McClendon gave Batesville Rotary Club members and MEC’s Mississippi Connection Tour a preview of the Playhouse’s present production, “A Time To Kill,” Tuesday, delivering the prosecuting attorney’s opening remarks.
McClendon, who plays the part of district attorney Rufus Buckley in the John Grisham bestseller-turned-blockbuster movie-turned play, performed the district attorney’s initial address to the jurors.
Rotarian Tom Womble introduced McClendon and recalled that when Grisham first published A Time To Kill, he visited the Batesville club to promote its sale — which he then did from the trunk of his car.
“This is the regional debut; John wanted that in north Mississippi,” McClendon said. A Time To Kill opened at Panola Playhouse on Main Street in Sardis last weekend and continues with performances at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
The cast, under the direction of Ryan Scott, is also performing for school audiences visiting the Playhouse, McClendon said.