Of
Mice and Men
By
John Steinbeck
Directed by Joe Discher
Audience
Reviews
 |
| Mark Mineart as Lennie and Graham
Winton as George. Photo © Gerry Goodstein. |
5 Stars!
BRAVO! BRAVO!
Reviewed by
Maureen Dowd of Florham Park, NJ
Imagine being so
profoundly moved that you find yourself torn between sitting
in your seat in numbed silence or leaping to your feet, applauding
wildly. That was my reaction at the conclusion of the Shakespeare
Theatre's production of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.
Actors Mark Mineart and Graham Winton are perfectly cast as
Lennie and George, the two unlikely friends who drift from
one flat-lined day to another, buoyed only by the dream of
making a stake and living off the "fat of the land."
We watch as George tries to to make their dream come true
while protecting his mentally-challenged friend from harm.
The audience is hammered emotionally, pulled along with George,
hoping to capture the elusive dream, resenting the weight
of caring for Lennie, and always fearing for their safety.
After two hours of emotional investment, I found myself viewing
the final scene through George's eyes, wanting to stop the
inevitable from happening but knowing that there was no more
choice and no more time. I watched helplessly as George performed
his ultimate act of friendship, and protected Lennie from
harm for the last time.
What was my reaction at the end of the play? It was numbed
silence. I then found myself on my feet, clapping loud and
long and shouting "Bravo! Bravo!"
I've never shouted "Bravo" before.
You don't want to miss this production. Everything about it
is remarkable, from the sets and costumes and lighting, to
the impeccable attention to detail. The inspired direction
of Joe Discher has created a world populated with a cast so
talented that the audience is drawn immediately into the drama
and not released until the lights come up.
The final curtain rings down on October 3rd, so buy a ticket
and treat yourself to an incredible experience that will move
you emotionally for a very long time.
What are you waiting for?
5 Stars!
BRAVO! BRAVO!
Reviewed by
Deborah Kaminski of Flemington, NJ
Five stars just
isn't enough! Mark Mineart and Graham Winton give such heart
wrenching performances that I was left speechless. Victoria
Mack and Paul Niebanck prove yet again why they both are our
favorites. The entire cast was just awesome. When the actors
came out for their curtain call, the reaction of the audience
said it all. It's just too bad that Joe Discher wasn't on
that stage taking a bow. To this entire production, may I
offer my sincere "Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!" and thank
you all so much for an incredible evening that I can't seem
to stop talking about.
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