Of Mice & Men
I’ve been asked to be in a stage production of an adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel “Of Mice & Men” early in 2018. I was a pretty big Steinbeck fan in high school. Especially loved “East of Eden” and “Grapes of Wrath”.
Haven’t read or seen a film version for “Of Mice & Men” in very long time, but part of this offer for this show was that I could choose any role I wanted except Lenny as it was already cast, and that wouldn’t have been a good fit for me anyway. Not that I’m a fan of picking roles for myself in any event. Haven’t committted to the show yet because I wanted to read the script and see if I get a job offer. I read the script tonight. It’s a quick read. But depressing. And not just because of the ending.
Revisiting the material now I can see the obvious imagery of how oppresssive postwar rural America was for anyone that is poor, learning or developmentally disabled, a woman, or a person of color. Granted it doesn’t delve too deep into such issues, but that is the word the story inhabits.
I’m waffling on whether or not I want to do it. The director is someone I’m friendly with and have acted with in many shows during the six years we’ve known each other. But I’ve not been in a production he has directed yet. He offered me the lead in Sam Shepard’s “Fool for Love” almost 4 years ago, but I had a conflict with the performance dates, and wasn’t acting at the time because I was focusing on my upcoming proprosal to my then girlfriend (now ex-wife).
The main reason I keep performing at all even if only periodically these days is just to have something to do while waiting for my fucking life to get going again. I don’t know how much longer I can take existing like this. I need something to happen. Some kind of forward momentum.
Haven’t read or seen a film version for “Of Mice & Men” in very long time, but part of this offer for this show was that I could choose any role I wanted except Lenny as it was already cast, and that wouldn’t have been a good fit for me anyway. Not that I’m a fan of picking roles for myself in any event. Haven’t committted to the show yet because I wanted to read the script and see if I get a job offer. I read the script tonight. It’s a quick read. But depressing. And not just because of the ending.
Revisiting the material now I can see the obvious imagery of how oppresssive postwar rural America was for anyone that is poor, learning or developmentally disabled, a woman, or a person of color. Granted it doesn’t delve too deep into such issues, but that is the word the story inhabits.
I’m waffling on whether or not I want to do it. The director is someone I’m friendly with and have acted with in many shows during the six years we’ve known each other. But I’ve not been in a production he has directed yet. He offered me the lead in Sam Shepard’s “Fool for Love” almost 4 years ago, but I had a conflict with the performance dates, and wasn’t acting at the time because I was focusing on my upcoming proprosal to my then girlfriend (now ex-wife).
The main reason I keep performing at all even if only periodically these days is just to have something to do while waiting for my fucking life to get going again. I don’t know how much longer I can take existing like this. I need something to happen. Some kind of forward momentum.
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