After a 2005-2006 season with very few things to be proud of, Toronto's CanStage has opened the first show of their season, with Of Mice And Men.
A good idea for an opening show to start your season.
A play filled with heart, touching moments, and most of all, familiarity. Most of us have either studied it in school, read it in our leisure time, or have seen any one of the film versions. The fact is, is that it's a part of us. Steinbeck's 1937 novella, which was published AND produced on Broadway in the same year, has become a part of our culture.
The idea of presenting a warm, touching show to start things off this year is noble, and as said above, is a good idea.
But what happens when good ideas go wrong?
Sadly, this depression era tale of two friends, George and Lennie, has more moments of boredom than those of the tear-jerking variety. It starts out well enough, with the actors setting the tone with an non-verbal scene set to, of all things, classical music of the Vivaldi sort, which is completely out of place for the piece. By the way, CanStage and Theatre Calgary, with a show like this, why would you decide to use a beanie baby for a dead puppy? Don't think we didn't notice.
There is some fine work from the actors, but only glimpses of what could have been. Led by Shaun Smyth (George) and Ashley Wright (Lennie), the cast is unbalanced. Benjamin Clost gives the most level performance of the night as Curly, but that is only because Curly is angry - all the time. Playing one emotion through a two and a half hour play is simple, but Clost does it well.
Lisa Norton plays Curly's Wife, and does some fine work. As the lone female in the cast, her character is simply searching for someone to talk to, to have some kind of human interaction with, which leads her to a disasterous end result.
There are moments of brilliance from Smyth and Wright, but it seemed to only happen at the end of each act. After Lennie is confronted by Curly and a fight ensues, Curly is left with a broken hand, and Lennie is only concerned about whether or not George will let him "tend the rabbits". This is one of the most emotionally charged scenes in the play, and it's performed tenderly with absolute care - which is essential. The final scene of play, when George must decide whether or not to save Lennie from Curly's wrath, is absolutely heart breaking. If only we had more of these tender moments through the course of the entire play, it would have made for a more powerful night of theatre.
John Jenkins and Allan Stichbury's set design in miraculous, filling the vast stage of the Bluma Appel theatre perfectly. It is functional, aesthetically pleasing, and sets the tone and mood for each scene. It is one of the best set designs in recent memory.
Dennis Garnhum, who directed the piece, has allowed this touching story about humanity, friendship and love to get washed away, when all it needed was a hand to guide it into our hearts and memories. The story will hold up on it's own, it just needs some sincerity, and most of all, simplicity. It's too bad we never really get that, and when we do get glimpses, it disappears soon after.
This production of Of Mice And Men won't go down as the best or the worst of the theatrical season, but sadly, it could have been one of the best. If only it had some heart.
Of Mice And Men
by John Steinbeck
Directed by Dennis Garnhum
Presented by CanStage/Theatre Calgary
Bluma Appel Theatre, Toronto
Now until Nov. 11th, 2006
*** (out of five)
