Of Mice and Men (play)

Background

The 1937 production opened while the novel was still on best seller lists. While the play follows the novel closely, Steinbeck altered the character of Curley's Wife, perhaps in response to criticisms from friends. In the play, Curley's wife does not threaten to have Crooks lynched, and in her final scene she talks of her childhood and her father trying to run away with her. This has the effect of softening her character, portraying her as lonely and misunderstood.

Plot

George, an affable migrant farm worker, and Lennie, a towering simple-minded pleasantly humble young man, are the subjects. They are bound by George's devotion and Lennie's "pathetic helplessness". George's guardianship keeps Lennie out of trouble, but we soon see this is a slippery slope. Lennie's displays of love result in several deaths ranging from mice and puppies to a beautiful woman. Eventually, in the face of a lynch mob, George kills Lennie to put him out of his misery.

Productions

Steinbeck adapted the play from the novel.

The play had its world premiere circa October 1937 by the San Francisco Theatre Union. The play premiered on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre on November 23, 1937, and closed in May 1938 after 207 performances. Directed by George S. Kaufman, the cast starred Broderick Crawford as Lennie and Wallace Ford as George. In 1939 the production was moved to Los Angeles, still with Wallace Ford in the role of George, but with Lon Chaney, Jr., taking on the role of Lennie. Chaney's performance in the role resulted in his casting in the movie.

There have been several revivals, the most recent produced in 2014, directed by Anna D. Shapiro with James Franco (George), Chris O'Dowd (Lennie) and Leighton Meester (Curley's Wife).

By the Book Theatre's production won 6 Brickenden Awards including Outstanding Drama, Director, Set Design, Actor, Supporting Actor, and Lighting Design.

Historical casting

The following tables show the casts of the principal original productions:

Awards

The production was chosen as Best American Play of the 1937-1938 season by the New York Drama Critics' Circle. The 2014 production earned two Tony Award nominations at the 68th Tony Awards (O'Dowd—Leading Actor and Japhy Weideman—Lighting Design).

Reception

Brooks Atkinson of The New York Times wrote that "Steinbeck has caught on paper two odd and lovable farm vagrants whose fate is implicit in their characters."

Notes

References

1. (February 21, 1938). "1937–38 Theatre Season Boasts a Dozen Hits".
2. (April 23, 2009). "The Essential Criticism of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men". Scarecrow Press.
3. Shedd, Margaret. (October 1937). "Of Mice and Men".
4. Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/184854-James-Franco-and-Chris-ODowd-Will-Make-Broadway-Debuts-in-Revival-of-Of-Mice-and-Men James Franco and Chris O'Dowd Will Make Broadway Debuts in Revival of Of Mice and Men"] {{webarchive. link. (February 23, 2014 playbill.com, November 26, 2013)
5. Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/185259-Leighton-Meester-Will-Join-James-Franco-and-Chris-ODowd-in-Broadway-Revival-of-Of-Mice-and-Men?tsrc=nx "Leighton Meester Will Join James Franco and Chris O'Dowd in Broadway Revival of 'Of Mice and Men'"] playbill.com, December 9, 2013
6. Belanger, Joe. (January 25, 2016). "Brickendens shine light on London's best and brightest". [[The London Free Press]].
7. "Of Mice and Men {{!}} IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information".
8. "Of Mice and Men". [[IBDB.com]].
9. "Of Mice and Men". [[IBDB.com]].
10. "Of Mice and Men". Lortel Archive.
11. "Of Mice and Men". [[IBDB.com]].
12. "Past Awards". [[New York Drama Critics' Circle]].
13. (June 8, 2014). "List of winners from the 2014 Tony Awards". [[USA Today]].
14. Atkinson, Brooks. (November 24, 1937). ["John Steinbeck's ''Of Mice and Men'' in a Production Staged by George S. Kaufman"](https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E01E1D7133EE03ABC4C51DFB767838C629EDE}} As cited in {{cite book). Cambridge University Press.