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Extreme Fan
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,454
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Thanks for the reviews and news 
I found a couple more.
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This production is easily a Tony nominee for best play. It is easily better than Machinal and All the Way, and I would have a very hard time choosing between it and Glass Menagerie. I found it to be immediately absorbing, almost entirely on the strength of Franco's emotive portrayal of George and O'Dowd's mannerisms as Lennie. I had no idea that these two actors had such presence (Franco particularly surprised me), and the mostly 20-something crowd at yesterday's Friday evening performance was completely taken in by the play's final scene (side note: I was surprised by how many seemed to have no idea how this play ends).
Franco is not just a Hollywood actor on Broadway--he's a real actor. His facial expressions were the standout for me, throughout his interactions with Lennie and the rest of the extremely good supporting cast. I mostly know O'Dowd from his comedic roles (The IT Crowd, Bridesmaids, Thor 2) but this play shows that he has serious chops as well.
As a guy though, I will admit that Leighton Meester was what got me to buy the ticket. That girl is unbelievably thin and incredibly pretty. She is fine in the role of Curley's Wife, but not at the level of Franco and O'Dowd. I get the feeling that she needs to relax a little more and let her words breathe. She's certainly not bad and she does bring a kind of haunted emptiness to her character, particularly when she is secretly observing other characters talk.
Whoever plays Curley is doing a really good job of portraying the insecure, hateful man he's supposed to be, down to his body language--well done.
After the show, the press at the stage door was 7-8 people deep, and there were definitely people outside who had not come from the play and were waiting to see Franco exit. (I didn't stick around.) The NYPD was already there and so were the black SUVs with the bodyguards to drive him away (yes, there really are black SUVs!).
To answer questions posed by others, the play is being staged in two acts. The first scene after intermission is in Crooks' shack.
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Of Mice and Men on Bway: Off the Chain | quarter-life something
It was about a month ago when I received one of those almost junky emails–you know, the ones that boast great deals on great Broadway shows you can’t afford. Well this one particular email was not junk, not in the least bit. Upon seeing the chosen cast and the fact that John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men was coming to Broadway at all, I swooned, maybe squealed like a little school girl for a bit, then purchased tickets immediately. With Tony Award winning director, Anna D. Shapiro, and a Broadway debuting cast starring James Franco, Chris O’ Dowd, and Leighton Meester, how could the show be bad, AMIRIGHT? Plus JIM NORTON. Sold. But really, you had me at James Franco.
I went in with high expectations and was not disappointed one bit. I was immediately impressed by the stage presentation and lighting. From the first moment James and Chris walk out onto the stage, you know you’re in for a treat. It’s been a long time since I’ve read the novel, but it all came back to me quickly. It then of course became nerve-wracking anticipating what was going to happen next with each line or scene. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed the show beginning to end. Hats off to the cast and their dedicated performances.
Jim Norton plays Candy and is UHH-MAZING… well, because he’s Tony Award winner Jim Norton and that was to be expected. I was just as excited to see him perform live as I was to see any of the other debuting actors/actress.
Leighton Meester is cast as Curley’s Wife, a self-absorbed, quick-tongued, despondent “floozy,” and she does just fine. I only wish I could hear her voice more loudly/clearly.
Chris O’ Dowd (Lennie) is ON POINT. You could really see how invested he is in the character, from the way he talks to the way he moves, fidgeting around, not quite aware of himself or the mighty presence/power of his body– he really, to me, exuded all that is and was Lennie Small, meanwhile providing much needed breaks of laughter from the intensity of the plot.
And Franco is nothing short of genius. It’s the little things an actor does that really bring a character to life–from the way he’d chew on those beans (you’d really think there were beans in his mouth), to how he’d humor Lennie in all his excitement, then just as quickly quash it with his temper. In regard to his Broadway debut, Franco says in an interview on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, “you feel a deeper connection to the character…you realize how deep you can go with a character… here it’s like you’re etching it.” Having seen only the second performance in front of a live audience, I can say it will no doubt only get better! Etch it James, etch it!
Whether or not you’ve read the novel, seen the old movie, studied it in high school, or whatever else, I highly highly highly recommend seeing this show. It’s a limited engagement running for only 18 weeks, so if you’re in New York and you want to nerd-out over a Steinbeck classic, or if you want to swoon or drool over Franco, O’ Dowd or Meester, get your tickets now! And here’s a bonus for you students out there–the Student Rush Policy was just announced the day before previews began, meaning:
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So overall it sounds like Leighton is doing good as Curly's wife with the minor problem to just feel a little more comfortable on stage and slow down her lines. This is something no doubt can be easily ironed out before opening show in just over 3 weeks time |