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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;text-autospace:none"><b style><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">OF MICE AND MEN compelling at Blank Canvas</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black">(Member, American
Theatre Critics Association)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">There is a new theatre in town…Blank
Canvas.<span style> </span>Founder Patrick Ciamacco
explains that this is a professional theatre which pays designers and actors
for their services.<span style> </span>He states that
the organization’s staff is “dedicated to providing a positive working environment
and want to show loyalty and investment in actors.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Ciamacco states, </span><span style="font-family:Palatino">“it is our goal to
create a new love for theater in people who might not usually see a show. That
was why we opened with <span style="text-transform:uppercase">The Texas
Chainsaw Musical</span>. We saw a large number of non-typical theater people.
We'll always have one show in our season that fits this criteria. We want
to create a versatile season that appeals to many different people.” </span><span style="font-family:Palatino"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The company’s opening show, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MUSICAL, was
well received.<span style> </span>Their latest
staging is OF MICE AND MEN.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">John Steinbeck’s novella OF MICE AND MEN, which was written in 1937, is
required reading in many high schools.<span style>
</span>Not in all, however, because some right wing religious zealots believe
that the “offensive” language of the book, is not fit for teenagers.<span style> </span>Too bad for those who miss out, because
it is a well-written and meaningful piece of literature.<span style> </span>The play version follows closely
the book’s plot.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Steinbeck knew well the migrant laborers of the depression days.<span style> </span>Mainly white, poor, and solitary, they
travelled the country in look of work.<span style>
</span>The men were mainly frustrated over their working conditions and often
dreamed of having a small place of their own, where they didn’t have to work
for someone else and take orders from bosses who were often as miserable as
themselves.<span style> </span>Steinbeck worked on a
company-owned ranch, so he writes from personal experience.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">OF MICE AND MEN basically tells the story of George Milton and Lennie
Small, who wander California in search of work.<span style> </span>They dream of getting enough money to buy a small ranch site
they know is available. <span style> </span>Much like
the Robert Burns poem “To A Mouse,” which reads, “The best laid schemes o’ mice
an’ men, often go awry,’ the men’s plans often get destroyed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">George and Lennie are best friends.<span style> </span>George is smart, not from book learning, but filled with
common sense.<span style> </span>Lennie is anything
but the small stature his last name indicates.<span style> </span>He is large, has great strength, but limited intelligence.<span style> </span>A creature of emotional drives, he is
childlike in his obsession for touching soft things.<span style> </span>When he touches softness, whether it be mice, rabbits,
puppies or cloth, he can lose rationale control.<span style> </span>The living things he touches often, because of his strength
and uncontrolled emotions, wind up dead. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">George attempts to protect Lennie from the world around him.<span style> </span>Lennie makes George’s life meaningful,
by giving him someone needs him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The duo finds works at a ranch, working under the supervision of the
ill-willed Curley, the boss’s son.<span style>
</span>Just when the duo’s hopes for getting their little farm seem to be
within reach, Curley’s beautiful, but unhappy wife, becomes the innocent victim
of Lennie’s compassion, and true tragedy strikes on several fronts.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Presented on a thrust stage surrounded by only three rows of seats, the
entire staging is uptight and personal.<span style>
</span>For this closeness to work, the production must be realistic.<span style> </span>Under the careful direction of Patrick
Ciamacco, the Blank Canvases production is compelling.<span style> </span>Everything from the realistic fight
scenes, to the clear character development, is on-target.<span style> </span>Laughter or emotional gasps from the
audience, at key moments, clearly reflect the quality of the show.<span style> </span>More than one handkerchief was pulled
out at the concluding blackout.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Ciamacco, who not only directs, has designed the sets, serves as
technical director, created the program, and conceived the poster design, makes
Lennie live.<span style> </span>This is not a
portrayal, this is a case of immersing yourself into a part so much that you
become the person. He walks the fine line between being childish and child-like
with precision.<span style> </span>He creates a man-child
who the audience wants to cuddle and save from himself. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Joe Kenderes, as George, is Ciamacco’s equal.<span style> </span>He is totally believable in creating a man who says that he
would be better off alone, but who cares so greatly for Lennie that he would do
about anything to save the hulking man of limited abilities from pain.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Tim Tvcar, as Candy, the old man who lost his hand in a ranch accident
and sees no personal future, Noah Hbrek, as the hateful insecure Curley, Betsy
Kahl, Curley’s lonely wife who finds herself isolated and wanting only “someone
to talk to,” Daniel Bush, as a rational mule man, Lucas Scattergood (Carlson),
William Goff (Whit), John Polk (The Boss), and Marvin Mallory (Crooks), are all
excellent.<span style> </span>Even Riley, who
portrays Candy’s aged dog, has great stage presence.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The set, the location changes, and the incidental music all add greatly
to the performance.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino">CAPSULE
JUDGMENT:<span style> </span>Blank Canvas’s OF MICE
AND MEN is compelling piece of theatre.<span style>
</span>This is an absolutely must see production filled with fine acting and
focused staging.<span style> </span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">OF MICE AND MEN runs though April 1 in its west side
theatre, 1305 West 78<sup>th</sup> Street, Suite 211, Cleveland.<span style> </span>Get directions to the theatre on the
website.<span style> </span>(My GPS was of little
help).<span style> </span>Once you arrive at the
site, go around the first building to find the entrance and then follow the
signs to the second floor acting space.<span style>
</span>It’s an adventurous battle, but worth the effort. For tickets and
directions go to <i style><a href="http://www.blankcanvasthetre.com">www.blankcanvasthetre.com</a></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>