John Steinbeck's masterpiece novella, "Of Mice and Men" will be showcased at the Ol' Moose Hall from April 12 to 28 by Innisfail Town Theatre. Nine cast members along with their production crew have been hard at work since early January on the contemplative drama.
The tale is about two contrasting male characters living in the depression who find an equal ground and build an unbreakable friendship. The narrative paints a picture of the everyday person striving for a dream while confronting extreme adversity.
"We have been thinking about doing this for quite awhile, though it is a bit of a departure from the comedic acts in the past," said Janis Bell, one of two directors of the dramaturgy. "The actors have done an exceptional job at working with the script that would have been a stretch for most."
"This play is what we needed to squeeze the actors out of that little box and flex their acting muscles in a new way. It forces us to run on character attributes rather than simply script," added Shane Hauser, director.
Steinbeck was quoted to have explained the source of his writings to be that of understanding the human condition in a relatable way. "In every bit of honest writing in the world there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love. There are shorter means, many of them. There is writing promoting social change, writing punishing injustice, writing in celebration of heroism, but always that base theme. Try to understand each other," he wrote in a journal entry.
Beginning April 12, performances will be running Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through to the 28. There will be one student night Wednesday, April 18 with tickets for $15. Dinner theatre tickets $35 general theatre $20. They can be purchased at the Legman in Innisfail or pre-ordered at (403) 227 5966.
Meanwhile, ITT is finishing all the last minute revisions for the play, the script still calls for one last cast member; a big, old dog. It must be able to sit on stage for 15 minutes nightly during the production. (Thursdays through Saturdays). For more information on the tail-wagger's required roll, call Janis Bell at (403) 227 1471.
