[NEohioPAL]Berko review: OF MICE AND MEN (Cleveland Play House)

[Roy Berko]

EMOTIONAL  ‘OF MICE AND MEN’ AT CPH

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

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‘OF MICE AND MEN,’ John Steinbeck’s play, which is now
on stage at the Cleveland Play House, was the author’s
attempt at writing in a format which he entitled a
play novelette.  

Steinbeck envisioned that the novel and the play would
have the same format and be interchangeable.  For
example, each chapter is arranged as a scene, and each
scene is confined to a single place.  

In spite of the fact that the book is a classic which
is read by most high school and college students, and
sold over 120,000 before it was even published in
1937, Steinbeck considered the work a failure in the
sense that it did not accomplish his goal since the
play version was rewritten by George Kaufman, who
directed its first production.

The novel/play which was transformed into five films,
an opera and numerous stage productions, is not
without controversy.  In the 1990s several school
libraries banned the book for “promoting euthanasia.” 
In fact, the book is number six on the list of the
American Library Association’s 100 Most Frequently
Challenged Books.

The play, which  is set on a ranch in the Salinas
Valley in California during the Great Depression of 
the 1930s, centers on George Milton and Lennie Small,
two migrant workers who dream of owning their own
farm.  Unfortunately, like the line in Robert Burns’
poem, “To a Mouse,” which laid the foundation for the
title and the script’s theme, “The best laid plans of
mice and men often go awry,” the dream is not
achieved.

George, is large, strong, unintelligent and innocent
at heart.  He lives to touch soft and furry things
(rabbits, mice, soft materials), but often acts out
physically when the animal nips or someone pulls away
from him.  George is his caretaker, friend and
conscience.  George and Lennie are like mice in the
maze of life.  Their extraordinary friendship
distinguishes them from other lonely migrant workers
who are individualists, afraid to show their softer
feelings or bond with another person. 

The CPH production, under the direction of Seth
Gordon, is generally effective.   The cast, with a few
exceptions is excellent.  

Jeffrey Evan Thomas is outstanding as Lennie.  This is
a difficult role.  There is a temptation to overdo the
character and make him pathetic or comic.  Thomas
walks the fine line with perfection.  This is an
amazing performance.  

Harry Carnahan is believable as George.  His affection
and desire to protect Lenny from hurt, including his
making a startling decision at the play’s final
curtain, is clear.  Even his oft repeated “If I was
alone I could live so easy,” is clearly developed as a
ploy to cover his need for the bonding.

Chet Carlin is convincing as Candy, the old man who
has little for which to live.  Jeremy Holm develops
the role of Slim well , as does Wiley Moore as the
“nigra.”  

Amanda Rowan weakly stays close to the surface as the
daughter-in-law of the ranch’s owner.  Vayu O’Donnell
is not believable as her husband.  Caleb Sekeres
(Whit) who uses a flat, no-affect delivery, fails to
develop any characterization.

Hugh Landwehr’s multi-set design works well and James
C. Swonger’s sound design helps develop the mood.

The first act is well-paced, but the second act
lagged.  

The power of the conclusion was disrupted by Gordon’s
decision to bring up the lights too quickly, startling
the audience back to reality, thus breaking their
emotional envelopment.

CAPSULE JUDGMENT: ‘OF MICE AND MEN’ is a generally
effective presentation with two srong performances by
Jeffrey Evan Thomas and Harry Carnahan.  It is a
production that should be attended not only by the
many students who study the show, but by those who
like a good script which gets a good production.

For tickets to ‘OF MICE AND MEN’ which runs through
January 28 in the Drury Theatre  of the Cleveland Play
House call 216-795-7000 or go on-line to
www.clevelandplayhouse.com.   



Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2006, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info
      
Roy's theatre and dance reviews appear regularly on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.  His dance reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com


 
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