The Hole in the Wall Theater (HITW) in New Britain, CT is proud to announce Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the first production of its’ 2015-2016 season. Performances run Fridays & Saturdays from September 25th through October 17th with one Sunday matinee on October 11th. Of Mice and Men is under the direction of Jill Ann Dvorsky (New Britain). Tickets are $20.00 (general admission) and $15.00 (students and seniors). They can be purchased at the door and online at www.hitw.org. The October 2nd performance will be our Pay-What-You-Can performance where you name the price of your ticket.
“This show spoke to me because it’s about isolation and seeking connection,” said Jill Ann. “That’s something I struggle with. I think most people do and I find that beautiful.”
Adapted by Steinbeck’s 1937 novel of the same name, Of Mice and Men tells the story two drifters, George (Matthew Cote of New Britain) and his friend Lennie (James DeMarco of New Britain), with delusions of living off the “fat of the land.” They have just arrived at a ranch to work for enough money to buy their own place. Lennie is a man-child, a little boy in the body of a dangerously powerful man. It’s Lennie’s obsessions with things soft and cuddly that have made George cautious about who the gentle giant, with his brute strength, associates with. His promise to allow Lennie to “tend to the rabbits” on their future land keeps Lennie calm, amidst distractions, as the overgrown child needs constant reassurance.
“I think this show is just so universal because from post-Industrial Revolution American onward, the plight of the lower class has stayed much the same,” said James. “Many things have changed or improved, but it still comes down to every person having a right to hold on to their dignity.”
Matt feels that although this piece was written several decades ago, modern day audiences can definitely relate to George and Lennie’s story. “George has a dream of owning his own ranch and escaping the depression era. The times were hard then just as they are now. This show is about working towards a dream which everyone works so hard for these days.’
The HITW cast includes: Matthew Cote, James DeMarco, Eugene Tellier, Stephanie Layne (all from New Britain) & Scott Hoffman (Newington), Brian Bowyer (Bethlehem), Robb Ecker (New London), Nick Demetriades (Cromwell) and Drew Brathwaite (Manchester).