Of course, the reason I’m writing this is that we saw the Pasadena Playhouse production of “Of Mice and Men” last night, and upon the opening scene, I though of those prior images. “Of Mice and Men” is basically the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two migrant workers in California. Steinbeck’s novel is based in the 1930s, and the workers are dust bowl migrants; this play places the story about 10 years later, and the workers are braceros — but it makes no difference to the underlying story, other than to interject small bits of Spanish into the dialogues.
So where was I? Ah, yes. “Of Mice and Men” tells the story of George and Lennie. George is the smarter member of the duo, making plans for a secure future for the two. He tries to do all the talking. His best friend Lennie is a gentle giant of a man, but obviously with a mental problem that makes him appear slow and stupid. Lennie loves to pet soft things: he loves to hug them and squeeze them, but sometimes he doesn’t know his own strength. When we meet these two, they are on their way to a job in Soledad CA to buck barley. We learn that Lennie has had trouble before grabbing a girl’s dress in Weed CA and they were run out of town, and that Lennie loves to pet mice, but they often are squeezed to death. These two eventually get to Soledad and the farm, and quickly become friends with most of the other workers, including Candy, an old swamper, and Crooks, a negro stablehand. Lennie even finds something soft to pet, and Smitty, the foreman, gives him a new puppy to pet. But there’s trouble brewing when Curley’s wife keeps coming out to talk to the men. First Curley gets in a fight with Lennie, and Lennie injures Curley. Later Curley’s wife is found by the boss talking to Crooks, Candy, George and Lennie, and this leads to the ultimate ending, which I don’t want to spoil. Throughout this all, George is talking and talking about the days when he and Lennie can buy a small plot of land and grow their own food and be their own boss, and Lennie can tend to the rabbits. He talks about how important it is that they are there for each other, and how they watch out for each. As such, this play focuses on the nature of this relationship, the importance of hope, and the ultimate price of actions.
The success of a production of “Of Mice and Men” really hinges on the actors, and the Playhouse did an excellent job of casting. George Milton was played by David Noroña, a small but powerful actor who captures the fast talking bracero George perfectly. His partner, Lennie Smalls, was played to perfection by Al Espinosa, a tall large man who captured the mentally-incapacitated nature of Lennie. He came across as gentle and strong, but stupid. Working around these two was the foreman, a mule skinner named Slim (Alex Mendoza), the old swamper Candy (Thomas Kopache), the two workers Carlson (Gino Montesinos) and Whit (Sol Castillo), and the Negro stableman, Crooks (Curtis C). Running the farm was the Boss (Josh Clark), his hot-headed son Curley (Joshua Bitton), and Curley’s lonely wife, Mae (Madison Dunaway). All actors are members of 
Much is being made of the change in this play’s setting, which lead to a primarily latino cast. The credit for this is given to the director, Paul Lazarus, who has given many interviews on the subject. I actually didn’t find the change in setting to be that big of a deal: other than the insertion of a few bits of spanish here and there, and the latino casting, you would never have known. I don’t think the change helped or hurt the play, other than bringing in some great actors. Lazarus, of course, is best known in Playhouse circles as the artistic director of the venue until 1992 when he resigned. The remainder of the technical staff consisted of D. Martyn Bookwalter (Scenic Design), Rita Salazar-Ashford (Costume Design), Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz (Lighting Design), Bruno Louchouarn (Music/Sound Design), and Michael Donovan (Casting). Production stage management was by Susie Walsh assisted by Hether Verhoef. The Playhouse is under the artistic direction of Sheldon Epps.
It will be very interesting to compare and contrast this version of “Of Mice and Men” with a smaller version of the same play we’ll be seeing at REP East in late September 2007. Although I’m sure it will be equally excellent, it will be interesting to see the story up close and personal, and in the migrant worker timeframe vs. the bracero timeframe. The Pasadena Playhouse production of “Of Mice and Men” continues through June 8, 2008; the REP East production runs from September 19 through October 18, 2008.
See you all at Grease. It’s the word, don’t cha know.
