Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Man and Mouse

Hello people of the inter-net/web/thing!

Today's review will be something a bit... different. You're probably getting tired of all the superhero reviews that I've been doing. So, here's a review of the current Broadway Production of "Of Mice and Men", starring James Franco and Chris O'Dowd!

Image credit to broadwayworld.com

WARNING: Spoilers ahead!

The story is centered around two men, George and Lennie. (George is portrayed by James Franco and Lennie is portrayed by Chris O'Dowd)

If you're familiar with the book, you probably know the central plot. I, unfortunately, have not read the original book. But, if you've never seen/read either, here's a character and back story overview.

George is clever, but uneducated, and quite irritable. Lennie, is sweet, caring, but has an intellectual disablity. They both have lost their jobs, and are going to start working as farm hands. The reason? Lennie has a bad habit of losing them their jobs. The last one they lost because he loved the softness of a lady's dress, and wouldn't let go, so she started calling out for help, accusing him of rape. Men heard her cries and started hunting for Lennie and George, so they ran. They start their new jobs and make some friends. That's all you really need. The play itself is just amazing, so I won't spoil it for you.

This is definitely the best acting I've ever seen from James Franco; his performance is astounding. The same can be said for Chris O'Dowd. Both actors portray their characters in a heart-wrenching and beautiful way, and their performances complement the bitter-sweet ending perfectly. Other than those few words, I can't really say much else. Their performance really speaks for itself.

The set is excellent as well. It's simple, with very few set changes and settings. The use of the space is very nice, and the portrayals of houses, creeks, and barns adds a very nice, rustic feel to the whole show.  

If you're staying in or visiting New York City, or if you live there, I would highly recommend going to see this beautifully done production. It closes on July 27th.

Teenage Critic, signing off.

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