by John Steinbeck
filmed live performance from the Longacre Theater (Broadway) seen on 19 November 2015
John Steinbeck adapted his own novel for the stage in 1937. This production, the last performance of which was filmed in July 2014, was directed by Anna D. Shapiro and starred James Franco as George and Chris O'Dowd as Lenny.
The play hinges on the two man characters, of course, and here were two actors who worked together extremely well to picture the awkward mutual dependence of two poor men moving through 1930s America looking for agricultural work. George protects Lenny, who is variously described as 'nuts' and 'not bright' - he is as simple-minded as a two year old, with a dangerous lack of awareness for the consequences of his actions, but with enormous strength. George knows that if Lenny works in peace all will be well, but he is also mindful that Lenny can easily get himself into trouble. In the end, tragedy prevails.
