OF MICE AND MEN REVIEW
by Shane Kelley
Hudson Gazette

CASGRAIN THEATRE
AUGUST 28 TO SEPTEMBER 13
We know we’ve been reading a great book or watching a great film or play when it ends and we experience that disorientated, snapped back to reality sensation. Great characters jump to life from the page to our imaginations or in front of us on screen or stage. We cheer them on, share their joy or pain, feel afraid for them or of them. We want more. Terry Donald’s production of legendary writer John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” at the Casgrain Theatre has that effect.

Written in 1937 “Of Mice and Men” is about about hope, dreams, loss and our primal need for companionship and connection. The story revolves around the friendship of Lennie, an innocent and lovable simpleton with dangerous strength when frightened, and George, his protector.

Penniless drifters, George and Lennie come to work on a ranch in Monterey County, California, the area where Steinbeck was born and raised. Lennie and George dream of earning enough to buy a small piece of property where they can “live off the fat of the land” and be free from tyrant bosses and slaving away 11 hours a day. Soon after arriving, their hopes, like “the best laid schemes o mice an men,” begin to go awry.

While most thoughts vanish from Lennie’s damanged brain like water through his fingers, he never forgets George’s committment “we’re not like those other guys, you’ve got me to take care of you and I’ve got you to take care of me.” The story touches on our universal fear of being “alone in the world.”
Steinbeck said “I wrote Of Mice and Men to be a play that can be read or a novel that can be played," a new concept at the time. Many of us knew it first as a required reading novella in high school. Since then, I’ve seen it on stage in Toronto and New York but neither effort really moved me the way the book did...until now. Peter Vrana & Adam LeBlanc, have brought Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” two main characters “Lennie” and “George” so simply and honestly to life, that I can’t imagine thinking about this story without seeing their faces.

Almost immediately after arriving at the ranch, Lennie recognizes they’ve come to a bad place where he will get in trouble. Chris Moore’s perfect “yellow jackets in his pants” Curly, the bosses mean spirited son, is consumed with jealousy over his flirtatious new wife and like some small guys, hates big guys like Lennie. As Curly’s desperate and neglected wife, Rebecca Croll does a wonderfully convincing and delicate tip toe between tart and sweetheart as she looks for any excuse to hang around the ranch hands in the hopes of talking to someone.

Bill Fletcher gives a heart-wrenching performance as Candy, a pathetic old one-handed man who wants to buy in on George & Lennie’s dream. The only thing Candy really cares about is his arthritic and blind old sheepdog played by Georgia, the actor’s own 15 year old geriatric lab who nearly upstages everyone.
In his deep, soothing voice and confident but approachable demeanor, Alex McCooeye displays the wisdom and decency of Slim, the foreman. Slim really runs the ranch and has the difficult job of helping a diverse range of male personalities work together and live in the same bunk house room.

Among the other ranch hands, Arron Turner plays the callous jerk Carlson, who has fun at the expense of those around him and is hell bent on doing away with Candy’s old dog. Matthew Raudsepp as Whit, grabs your attention as he moves with the sometimes frenetic and nervous energy of a boy, as the youngest ranch hand trying to fit in with older guys. Herschel Andoh unearths the sadness, intelligence and acceptance of the lonely and bitter outcast Crooks without resorting to stereotypical affectations of poor black men of the era. Award winning director Terry Donald not only delivers a top notch production but gives an authentic performance in the small roll of The Boss.

The casting is exemplary and the production crew has done a great job with dramatic set and lighting design by Hudson Village Theatre’s resident lighting designer Peter Vatsis. A perfect play for the generously sized but intimate Casgrain stage. I saw not a squirm nor heard a cough from the audience during the entire performance. Director Terry Donald and his MTLTE (Montreal Theatre Ensemble) production company delivers a true-to-the-book production which is greatly appreciated. Of Mice and Men sticks in the mind. A bargain for a professional theatre production of this caliber at $10. to $15. per ticket, I recommend that you get over to the Casgrain Theatre (JAC campus in St. Anne de Bellevue) August 28 - September 13th and experience it yourself. Information and tickets www.mtlte.com or 514.515.9140 http://www.shane-kelley.com/