Play: "Of Mice and Men," drama
Performers: Barter Theatre National Tour
Time/date: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6
Estimated duration: 2 hours
Site: Five Flags Theater
Cost: $25 reserve seats; $10 for students
synopsis:
What it's about: Based on the short novel by John Steinbeck, written in 1937, it's the Great Depression-era story of two itinerant ranch workers, Lennie and George, who have been run off their previous place of employment but still have dreams of a place of their own. Lennie is a large man with the mind of a child, who gets into trouble because he likes to touch soft things. George is the opposite: physically weak but intelligent.
Quotable from director Katy Brown:
* "This is a story about men hijacked by the economy. They had different plans in mind. This is about how they deal with it. Ultimately, it's about how these men take care of each other, even though at the end George
| Advertisement |
|---|
|
|
* "We wanted to pick an American classic. We felt that we had actors who could knock this one out of the park, but also that it seemed so timely."
* When rehearsals began, "I said, 'Guys, the tragedy will take care of itself. I want you to see and smell and taste the dreams of these characters. I want you to act as if every day, this is the day that you'll get that dream.' "
* "Audiences have been surprised at the roller coaster of emotions. They thought it was going to be depressing, but it's also funny. We've gone after the hope."
tidbits
* Barter Theatre is based in Abingdon, Va. It was founded in 1933, the midst of the Great Depression.
* Its name comes from the fact that the theater often took trade goods in lieu of the 35-cent admission. It also bartered with playwrights for the rights to their work: Noel Coward, Tennessee Williams and Thornton Wilder accepted Virginia hams for their scripts. George Bernard Shaw, a vegetarian, took spinach in trade.
* There are 10 actors in the cast, plus Rocky, a retired Belgian Malinoi police dog who plays Candy's dog.
* The show is appropriate for older middle-school aged students and older. It is frequently done for high school audiences for whom the novel is required reading.
Sandye Voight
