[NEohioPAL]"Of Mice and Men" Review- Akron Beacon

Sun Mar 23 21:46:36 PST 2003

<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV><SPAN class=headline>3/23/03</SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV><SPAN class=headline>Steinbeck classic gets thoughtful treatment</SPAN><BR></DIV><B><SPAN class=deck></SPAN></B>
<DIV><B><SPAN class=deck>Surprising choices in staging help Players Guild's `Of Mice and Men'</SPAN></B><BR><B><SPAN class=byline>By Kerry Clawson</SPAN></B><BR><B><SPAN class=creditline>Beacon Journal staff writer</SPAN></B><BR><SPAN class=body-content></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=body-content>Terry Sandler has been waiting since his sophomore year of high school to direct the American classic <I>Of Mice and Men</I>, and it shows.</DIV>
<P>He offers a very thoughtful presentation of John Steinbeck's work at the Players Guild of Canton. Sandler -- a local actor, director, playwright, filmmaker and teacher -- offers surprising innovations in staging that add to this drama's profound sense of melancholy.</P>
<P>The surprises begin before the show officially does, with four actors on stage ad libbing as farmhands playing cards in their bunks. This gives the audience the opportunity to get into the mood and environment of the piece from the moment they enter the theater.</P>
<P>Also unexpected is a short, playful exchange between two young boys in the opening scene, signifying the young Lennie and George. They are present in nearly every scene, signifying the deep-rooted friendship that the mentally challenged Lennie and his protector share.</P>
<P>Through most of the play, these young boys (Mark Leach and Mike Scupholm) peek in on the action as Steinbeck's story unfolds. The play takes place mainly in an open-air bunker and barn, with wide wood slats that the boys peer through. They're largely invisible to the rest of the characters.</P>
<P>For the most part, this unusual element works. But later, after tragedy strikes, only one of the boys appears. It's impossible to tell whether that's supposed to be young Lennie or young George reaching out to the adult Lennie.</P>
<P>Their hands reach out to each other, but they are unable to make a connection. It's unclear what Sandler's intent is here, but perhaps we may assume that Lennie is trapped in his own confused world.</P>
<P>Actors Nate Addessi and Stephen Becker, playing George and Lennie as adults, make a great team. Both their camaraderie and their dreams feel very real.</P>
<P>Under the skillful direction of Sandler, the whole cast helps create a sense of foreboding early in the play.</P>
<P>Sandler has created a nightmarish quality in a confrontation between Lennie and the surly Curley (Dan Jackson). Here, there's a lot of flailing in slow motion, but the fact that everyone is miming the fight at the same time creates confusion. It's impossible to discern how much each character is involved in helping Lennie defend himself.</P>
<P>This segment, which is intentionally repetitive in its fighting motions, goes on too long. Loud, nightmarish recorded music also drowns out too much of the dialogue in this scene.</P>
<P>A similar technique is key in a scene in which Curley's wife dies. Actress Carrie Alexander Spina and Becker go through repetitive, choreographed motions that look redundant.</P>
<P>This isn't a pretty story, and the play contains rough language. But Steinbeck's words are full of rich, powerful symbolism.</P>
<P>Jerry Burris is likable as the maimed Candy, who pantomimes having a dog whom he loves dearly. But at times, Burris has a problem with projection.</P>
<P>Forrest Webb crouches over in a most bizarre manner as the stable buck Crooks. Webb does not carry off his role as the older, crippled black man: We're all too aware that he's young and able-bodied.</P>
<P>In another interesting interpretation, Sandler has chosen to use the recorded voice of Lennie's late aunt as well as an unidentifiable male, who repeats himself threateningly in Lennie's tormented head during the play's final scene.</P>
<P>All the characters in this play are starving to make a human connection. And although <I>Of Mice and Men</I>'s story is depressing, we see that George and Lennie are actually two of the lucky ones: They had each other.</P></SPAN>
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<I><SPAN class=tagline>Theater critic Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or by e-mail <A href="mailto:atkclawson at thebeaconjournal.com">atkclawson at thebeaconjournal.com</A>.</SPAN></I></DIV></DIV></div><br clear=all><hr>Help STOP SPAM with <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMLENUS/2731">the new MSN 8 </a> and get 2 months FREE*</html>