Of mice, men and survival
John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" is an American tragedy, and Lake City Playhouse's presentation of the drama offers solid performances and poignant moments.
Set in the 1930s during the Great Depression, "Of Mice and Men" is a story of survival and the friendship between nomadic workers George and Lennie. The two are a mismatched pair;
George, played by George Green, is small and energetic while Lennie, played by David Gigler, is mentally challenged and tall and looks like a large child in overalls.
George alternates between devotion to and consternation with his childhood friend. In the opening scene, Lennie's complaint about not having ketchup with his beans offers humor but vexes George. Green and Gigler portray their characters with sincerity, and their relationship displays real tension and complexity.
George is a man with a dream-to earn enough money to buy a ranch of his own. His enthusiasm is so contagious he draws others into his vision, including the audience. But Steinbeck doesn't let his characters keep their dreams.
The one woman on the ranch, known to the audience as Curley's Wife, longs for having someone to talk to and dreams of being in the movies. Ariel Cansino, as the beautiful yet lonely wife, tells Lennie a tender memory of her father. Her delivery is sweet and pulls the audience in, but the softness is short lived due to a shocking violent act.
Norm McBride gives a natural and authentic performance as Candy, another ranch hand. Candy finds comfort in his faithful companion, an old sheep dog. But in this world, when an animal outlives its usefulness, it is put down. Candy's blank expression as a co-worker takes the dog out to shoot it is riveting.
Other strong performances include Chris LeBlanc as the ranch foreman and philosopher, Slim, and David Casteal as Crooks, the black stableman. Crooks is trapped by his race and social status and is not allowed to interact with the other men. "Everybody needs somebody to be near," he says, echoing one of the play's themes.
While Curley is described as a hothead, Nic Kim's portrayal is more lukewarm. More aggression on his part would better justify George's actions.
Dan Heggem makes a strong directorial debut with this gut-wrenching drama, but there are a few moments that would benefit from an experienced hand. The placement of the actors felt static, at times, and some emotional moments were missed. For example, when Curley's wife finds out that George plans to buy a ranch with some financial help from Candy, she quips that Candy doesn't really have money because he spent it on whiskey. This line was quickly said, but perhaps it is a truth revealed.
Even so, Steinbeck's story is compelling and the audience wants to believe in George's dream yet feels powerless to stop the freight train that runs right to the play's stunning end.
"Of Mice and Men" plays through Jan. 30.
Sandra Hosking, a Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area college instructor and freelance journalist, is a longtime member of the theater community and playwright whose works have been performed across the U.S. and internationally.