GENESEO – The director for the Geneseo Community Players says that John Steinbeck’s 80-year-old classic still portrays ‘a really complex look into human nature’ and an America unchanged since the Great Depression.
According to a press release from the Community Players, ‘Of Mice And Men’ will be presented this weekend at the beautiful Riviera Theatre in Geneseo on Friday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 general admission and are available at David Mann Jewelers on Main Street or at the door.
“It’s amazing to take a story like this that was written 80 years ago and see how little things have really changed in America,” said VanRy. “I’d love to know what Steinbeck would think about our society in 2018.”
The press release says that ‘the play is the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two ranch hands trying to scratch out a living during the dark days of the Great Depression. The two have been best friends since childhood, but are an unlikely pair. George (played by Chris Norton) is the brains of the duo and tries to protect his friend from the trials of life. Lennie (Toby Drowne) is enormous, a mountain of a man, but is mentally challenged. He doesn’t mean to do bad things, but he doesn’t know his own strength.’
The press release goes on to say that ‘the friends come to a new ranch to work, but dream of one day owning their own place where they can ‘live off the fat of the land.’ When the oldest worker on the ranch, Candy (Stan Janczak), overhears them talking about their dream farm, he offers to go in with them. Can it be that they are finally going to achieve what they have worked their whole lives for? It’s only when Lennie accidentally does another ‘bad thing’ that their dream again comes crashing down, and George is forced to make the most important decision of his life to save his best friend.’
“Almost every character in the play is flawed in some way or has a burden they carry with them,” added VanRy. “Whether it’s the short, hot-headed Curley (Billy Daniel), his desperately lonely wife (Amanda Lynch), or the ostracized Black stable buck Crooks (Kyle Johnson), everyone on the ranch is embroiled in a daily competition for attention and power.”
(Photo/Geneseo Community Players)