Of Mice and Men Previews- Page 2

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/20/14 at 8:23am

ArtMan, I really can't say for sure. When I said the poles were four rows back I was only giving my best guess. Since you are on the aisle you should be fine...I believe it is only in the back half of the center sections that you run into the poles. Hope you enjoy the show!

[ArtMan]

Posted: 3/20/14 at 8:32am

Thanks, Whizzer. It's my first show of my trip. (Wednesday matinee). I like the actors involved and enjoy Steinbeck. Plus I needed a play break from all musicals.

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 3/20/14 at 11:20am

Thanks, Whizzer. Was waiting for your review. Just bought tickets now. Glad to hear it's a good show. James Franco's projects are either really great or pretty awful.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 3/20/14 at 3:40pm

Is the play being presented in three acts as written? That could explain the comments about it being long because it really isn't a lengthy play. I'm doing a production now and it's pulling in at a tad under two hours sans intermission (I'm doing it in two acts).

I agree with Whizzer about Lennie being slow and it seems that O'Dowd is not "playing" the affliction, which is the way to go. The character could easily tip into an offensive stereotype in the wrong hands. Whizzer, what music are they using? Original or extant?

[mgldan]

Posted: 3/20/14 at 7:27pm

Just bought my ticket for tomorrow night! I was on the fence because Franco is usually hit and miss, but I've now been convinced.

[mgldan]

Posted: 3/22/14 at 10:37am

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.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/22/14 at 1:39pm

Of Mice and Men is a revival, not a new play. It won't be competing with All The Way.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 3/22/14 at 11:48pm

After seeing the show tonight, my quick summary would be "solid, but sterile." For me, there was no fire or spark. Chris O'Dowd certainly walks away with the show, and in a role that is certain to be award season bait, I will not be surprised if he gets some recognition. But the whole thing moved along at a pretty slow pace for me. Even the scenes with confrontation played out without the necessary explosiveness. That being said, the entire cast was fine (though I didn't think Leighton was good at all).

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 3/23/14 at 10:46am

bjh, I would agree with that. I thought that other than O'Dowd, the performances were pretty anemic. Franco especially. Someone above called his performance "emotive", well when I saw it he barely showed any emotion at all. He was so dry and dull. None of the his scenes in the second act had any kind of energy at all. O'Dowd was the only standout, and he deserves all the accolades that are sure to come his way.

(I will add however, that I saw the show at the dress rehearsal, so it's very possible that Franco is getting more comfortable in the role and that his performance now might be better.)

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 12:35pm

I agree with the latter reviews from people. I thought the show was pretty bad.

A lot of people on stage were having their Broadway/stage debuts and it showed. James Franco is always just James Franco to me. I don't know if he was trying to do an accent but if he was then it didn't work. During act one I was sitting in the balcony and was terribly distracted by how much he's "playing" cards (AKA dealing, not playing and reshuffling). I don't know if this was to distract us from the bad acting but I found it bothersome. I'm sure to be lynched by saying this but I didn't care for Jim Norton. He's a little too theatrical/regal for the down home character he's playing. He just came across as annoying more than apathetic. Jim Parrack and Leighton Meester who I love on TV did nothing for me on stage. Chris O'Dowd was pretty good but something about his English accent combined with the slow speech sounded off to me.

As bjh said, I felt like this production was severely lacking in emotion. During intermission I moved to the front center orchestra thinking that being closer to the action would allow me to connect more but no such luck. I didn't care that Curley's Wife died because she served no purpose other than to be the catalyst for the ending so you never give a sh!t about her. And I know the ending is how it's written but it seems rather anticlimactic to me. The shooting happens, blackness and five seconds later everyone is coming out to take bows. I don't think there is time to process emotion of the events, if you're invested in them.

For those of you wondering, insane people were standing at the stage door an hour before the performance started I guess in hopes of bothering the actors when they arrive.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 1:01pm

I know it's early in the run, but out of curiosity, has anybody stage doored or seen what the stage door is like.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 1:17pm

If people are standing outside the stage door an hour BEFORE the performance what do you think? I'm sure it's a fvcking madhouse.

[Patash]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 2:53pm

"has anybody stage doored or seen what the stage door is like."

The stage door is metal, pretty old, and could use a coat of paint. It has a couple of locks on it and it opens out.



Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 3:52pm

I didn't see that post- my bad.

[Brandon122]

Posted: 4/2/14 at 12:37pm

Not going to lie, James Franco would be the last guy I'd think to be in Broadway. I mean if you look at it, he's made tons of movie, and T.V appearances, then all of a sudden Broadway? Don't get me wrong he'll do great, guess you could say it's a shock.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/2/14 at 12:47pm

To be fair, he also released a novel, a book of poetry, starred on a soap opera *after* being famous, takes classes in pursuit of multiple degrees at multiple schools, if anything, he seems to want to do everything...

[ArtMan]

Posted: 4/2/14 at 1:07pm

Franco is the type that I would automatically think would try Broadway. He seems like the type that would say you are not truly an actor until you appeared before a live audience. Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing this.

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 4/9/14 at 10:57am

Saw last night's performance. Chris O'Dowd is pretty fantastic. Both he and Franco took some time getting into it. The first scene was rough.

Overall I was very touched by the show. The writing is so good. It's hard to screw this one up.

The design was very simple and effective.

I would recommend this, but...

The one issue everyone must accept is an audience full of first time theater goers comprised mostly of teenage and 20-something girls. I've never seen so many phones in use at a theater. The second the lights came up for intermission, all phones were out and on Instagram. It was bizarre. I'm a 20-something man and I couldn't relate. Also, due to the recent scandal, a lot of the girls there are running like hell to the stage door after the show as they now have reason to believe they can get in bed with Franco upon meeting him after the show.

Sadly, the celebrity aspects of the show have colored my memories of the evening and kind of detracted from the story telling.

[Addison D.]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 12:30am

I thought Chris O'Dowd did a great job with what has to be a very daunting challenge-- bringing such a one-note character to life. Lennie's child-like simplicity leaves no room for development or growth, which leaves him vulnerable to just being tedious. O'Dowd, however, provides enough detail and nuance so that Lennie is both believable and sympathetic. While I agree with the previous comment(s) regarding a lack of "explosiveness" in some scenes--I thought O'Dowd exploded perfectly when called to do so--I thought his scene in Crooks' room was riveting.

I wanted to be blown away by James Franco but I was not. I think he's doing a creditable job, but I found him insufficient in his most important moments. He's got "gruff" down pat, and he does a good "impatient and angry", but the complexity of George--the depth of his yearning--isn't there yet. Maybe it will appear in the run of the show.

I was not impressed by Leighton Meester--I want Curley's Wife to be more dangerous, more flirtatious, more cruel, more selfish. MORE. Her line readings about leaving Curley to find her fantasy life as a Movie Star reminded me of Parker Posey's Libby Mae Brown in 'Guffman'--vaguely wan and inarticulate rather than a woman driven by despair to take a chance at finding her dreams.

I thought the rest of the cast did a fine job.

For the record--despite a mob scene of what appeared to be young television fans taking selfies in front of the theater at 7:50PM, the audience tonight was perfectly behaved. Reports of the death of manners are, happily, greatly exaggerated. While I don't approve of their T-shirts and sneakers, I cannot fault their deportment.

Updated On: 4/11/14 at 12:30 AM

[gstrus2]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 10:23am

Saw the show last night and LOVED it! Chris O'Dowd and James Franco both left me speechless (espc. Chris). Leighton left a bit to be desired, but the rest of the cast was brilliant as well. Highly recomend this one.
STAGE DOOR: Right as the lights went down, people started sprinting. I got there with a friend and we were at the front of the barricade on the left side of the door itself. After 5 minutes, they moved the barricades up closer to the door and sadly my front spot was taken. But everyone focused on being in the front, they forgot about the sides. Chris and James are very nice and try to sign and get pictures with everyone and go down the sides of the barricades as well. Leighton signed and took pictures in the front and that's it, and Jim Norton also came out and signed. Leighton came out about 45 minutes after the show, Chris about 50, and James about 65.

[Adair Haywind]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 10:44am

They didn't even wait until after the curtain call to start sprinting to the stage door? Disrespectful bastards.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 11:34am

Frankly I don't get the whole stage door thing. I've never done it in my life, and never will.

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 12:24pm

Lets be real though. Most of these teens more than likely know nothing about theater etiquette. They probably say "alright, the show is over. We can go." Franco is also promoting the stage door A LOT on instagram (yes, I follow him, don't judge me lol), so he is getting people incredibly excited for it.

Not trying to make excuses for them, but they probably just don't know or understand it is respectful to stay for bows. Be thankful they are at least buying a ticket to the show and now just going to the stage door.

[Patash]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 12:34pm

I worked my way past the maze of school buses and saw the matinee this Wednesday along with about 80% high school audience. They could not have been a better audience! And I did not hear a single phone going off -- unlike most performances filled with senior citizens. Someone is teaching these kids theatre etiquette and I couldn't be happier about that. At intermission I did hear a couple of 15 year olds -- "man, if you were going to sleep, why did you bother to buy a ticket? This show is fantastic and the acting is amazing."

I loved the guy who was pretending to be Chris Dowd. I know the program and the posters have his name, and even his picture, but that guy playing Lenny didn't look like Chris Dowd and didn't have a single vocal or physical characteristic of Chris Dowd! He was amazing.

[rjm516]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 10:26pm

"I will admit that Leighton Meester was what got me to buy the ticket. That girl is unbelievably thin and incredibly pretty."

Wow I hope that is a typo or that you meant her acting is thin. Otherwise, that's pretty gross and it's time you learned that's not an ok thing to comment on, fyi.