“Of Mice and Men” has been required reading for generations of high school students in the American schooling system, who, often seemed to dread it. This experience was completely different from my experience when I stumbled upon this novel in a bookstore one day and was completely fascinated by it. Even now, John Steinbeck’s Depression-era classic still speaks to audiences all over today. The play speaks the tale of two migrant workers— Lennie Small, physically strong but mentally challenged and George Milton,who acts as Lennie’s watch dog and tries (though unsuccessfully) to keep him out of trouble. The pair are hired to work on a Californian ranch, where their encounters with the other workers lead to disaster. The boss’s son Curley has a new wife who creates tension among the men, ultimately leading to Lennie’s downfall.
The stage adaptation opens The REP’s 2014 season at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Directed by Robert A. Miller, Of Mice and Men was previewed on Thursday, Sept. 4, and runs from Sept. 5 to Sept. 21 in the Rauh Theatre at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Performances are 8 p.m., Thursday – Saturday, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets range from $24 to $27 and are free if you present your Point Park University ID at the window. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Pittsburgh Playhouse box office at 412-392-8000, or online at www.pittsburghplayhouse.com.
This production unfolds at a leisurely pace, with shadows of violence and death foreboding in the backgrounds like a summer thunderstorm threatening a nice beach day, slowly picking up it’s pace and a crackling energy as the story spirals to its tragic conclusion. Lennie and George (Leandro Cano and Jarrod DiGiorgi) play the central characters with the comfortable ease of two longtime companions who both care for, as well as irritate each other. The supporting cast, who includes the likes of Philip Winters as the Boss, David Whalen as Slim, Justin Fortunato as Whit and Weston Blakesley as Carlson, who fill the roll of observers, suspicious of two men who travel together. Luke Halferty’s irritable yet highly suspicious character Curley adds to the feeling of menace and danger that Lennie and George sense from the moment they arrive. This, along with Erin Lindsey Krom playing Curley’s wife, carries an air of indefinite innocence and fragility that’s at odds with the men’s reactions to her bids for attention. Despite the sad, but inevitable outcome, it’s Crooks played by Tommy Lafitte’s and Candy by John McManus’ for whom you will arguably feel the most compassion for. The duo raises the play from drama to tragedy when their newly awakened dreams collapse.
Personally I felt that this play was executed wonderfully, despite slight hiccups in said execution. As a person who has read the book multiple times, scenes that I worried about being portrayed well were performed beautifully. I definitely recommend this play to anyone who has read the book, watched the movie,  and even those who have never experienced John Steinbeck’s classic. Out of a 10, I give it a solid 8.5.