Of Mice and Men

By John Steinbeck

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MSP's policy regarding Covid-19 will be followed for auditions, rehearsals, and performances.  For more information on the MSP Covid-19 Policy, please see the bottom of this page.  This policy is subject to change as state and local guidelines change.  

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A Note From the Director:

Please be advised: Of Mice and Men contains violent language and profanity, including racial slurs. It is important to the director that the language in the script be maintained in its original form. By auditioning, you acknowledge that you agree to perform the original language as it is presented in the script. Appropriate content warnings will be placed on all marketing and advertising efforts for this production.

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Audition Dates:  

Sunday, December 12 & Monday, December13 at 7:00 pm.  Auditions will be held at the Westfield Playhouse (220 N. Union Street, Westfield, IN 46074). Please enter through the front lobby doors and head upstairs for auditions.   

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If you have any questions, please contact director James H. Williams at gemini1969@gmail.com

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Audition Process:

Actors will be asked to cold read from the script. In addition, actors will be asked to demonstrate their ability to perform in character by participating in an improvisational activity. Instructions and preparation time for the activity will be given at auditions.

 

Download an audition sheet (below) and bring it with you to auditions. Be sure to include all conflicts. Also, please bring a recent headshot.

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Performance Dates: 

February 10 - 20, 2022

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows begin at 7:30. Sunday shows begin at 2:30.

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Synopsis: 

Two drifters, George and his friend Lennie, with delusions of living off the “fat of the land,” 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. But when a ranch boss’ promiscuous wife is found dead in the barn with a broken neck, it’s obvious that Lennie, albeit accidentally, killed her. George, now worried about his own safety, knows exactly where Lennie has gone to hide, and he meets him there. Realizing they can’t run away anymore, George is faced with a moral question: How should he deal with Lennie before the ranchers find him and take matters into their own hands?

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Rehearsal Information:

Read-through:  Monday, December 20 at 7:00 PM

 

Rehearsals:  Mondays – Thursdays, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM. Rehearsals begin Tuesday, December 21 in the rehearsal room upstairs at the Playhouse.

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Roles to be cast:

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George Milton: stage age around 30. A small, wiry, quick-witted man who travels with, and cares for, Lennie. Although he frequently speaks of how much better his life would be without his caretaking responsibilities, George is obviously devoted to Lennie. George’s behavior is motivated by the desire to protect Lennie and, eventually, deliver them both to the farm of their dreams. Though George is the

source of the often-told story of life on their future farm, it is Lennie’s childlike faith that enables George to actually believe his account of their future.

 

Lennie Small: stage age around 30. A large, lumbering, childlike migrant worker. Due to his mild mental disability, Lennie completely depends upon George, his friend and traveling companion, for guidance and protection. The two men share a vision of a farm that they will own together, a vision that Lennie believes in wholeheartedly. Gentle and kind, Lennie nevertheless does not understand his own strength. His love of petting soft things, such as small animals, dresses, and people’s hair, leads to disaster.

 

Candy: stage age 60+. An aging ranch handyman, Candy lost his hand in an accident and worries about his future on the ranch. Fearing that his age is making him useless, he seizes on George’s description of the farm he and Lennie will have, offering his life’s savings if he can join George and Lennie in owning the land.

 

Curley: stage age 25-30. The boss’s son, Curley wears high-heeled boots to distinguish himself from the field hands. Rumored to be a champion prizefighter, he is a confrontational, mean-spirited, and aggressive young man who seeks to compensate for his small stature by picking fights with larger men. Recently married, Curley is plagued with jealous suspicions and is extremely possessive of his flirtatious young wife.

 

Curley’s Wife: stage age 18-20. The only female character in the story, Curley’s wife is never given a name and is only mentioned in reference to her husband. The men on the farm refer to her as a “tramp,” a “tart,” and a “looloo.” Dressed in fancy, feathered red shoes, she represents the temptation of female sexuality in a male-dominated world. Steinbeck depicts Curley’s wife not as a villain, but rather as a victim. Like the ranch-hands, she is desperately lonely and has broken dreams of a better life.

 

Slim: stage age around 35. A highly skilled mule driver and the acknowledged “prince” of the ranch, Slim is the only character who seems to be at peace with himself. The other characters often look to Slim for advice.

 

Carlson: stage age 30-40. A ranch-hand, Carlson complains bitterly about Candy’s old, smelly dog.

 

Crooks: stage age 30-50. Crooks, the Black stable hand, gets his name from his crooked back. Proud, bitter, and caustically funny, he is isolated from the other men because of the color of his skin. Despite himself, Crooks becomes fond of Lennie, and though he derisively claims to have seen countless men following empty dreams of buying their own land, he asks Lennie if he can go with them and hoe in the garden.

 

The Boss: stage age around 50. The stocky, well-dressed man in charge of the ranch, and Curley’s father. He is never named and appears only once but seems to be a fair-minded man. Candy happily reports that The Boss once delivered a gallon of whiskey to the ranch hands on Christmas Day.

 

Whit: stage age 25-ish. Another ranch hand, a bit of a sidekick to Carlson. Smaller role.

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IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR ACTORS, TECHNICIANS, VOLUNTEERS AND PATRONS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE

DURING THE WIND DOWN PHASE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, WESTFIELD PLAYHOUSE/MAIN STREET PRODUCTIONS, INC.

HAS INSTITUTED THE FOLLOWING REVISED COVID RULES - EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 14, 2021

 

        1.  WPH will maintain signage at every public entrance (anyone entering the theatre to the lobby) that will display the following messaging:                 “If you are not fully vaccinated or do not have the antibodies, Please wear a mask.”  We would expect patrons who are not vaccinated or                 do not have reason to believe they have the antibodies to wear a mask at all times when in the building.  UPDATE 1/9/2022 - ALL 

             PATRONS AND FRONT OF HOUSE VOLUNTEERS ARE REQUIERED TO WEAR A MASK WHEN IN THE BUILDING.

 

        2.  We will have hand sanitizer in the dressing rooms, outside the actor bathrooms and back stage for actor/technician/volunteer use and in

             the lobby and lobby bathrooms for patron use.

 

        3.  Actors/technicians/volunteers should show up to all rehearsals prepared with all of their own materials, including, but not limited to,

             scripts, pencils, masks, water bottles.  No company members should share, including make-up and hair styling equipment.

 

        4.  There will be no reception lines or gathering of actors or company members in the lobby following the performance.  We would ask that

             patrons do not congregate in the lobby prior to or after the shows.  Any greeting or picture taking with friends or family should occur                     outside the theatre, at a safe social distance.  This will occur on the front porch, off to the side as to not block the exit doors.  Each show’s

             director has the option to choose whether their cast will do this or not.  Each actor in the cast will also have the option to participate or                   not, depending on their own personal comfort level.

 

        5.  If an actor, technician, or volunteer tests positive for Covid during the early portion of rehearsal, s/he will be removed from the

             production and the role will be reassigned.  Re-casting will also occur if this situation happens close to opening, and the role is small.  If a

             positive test occurs too close to opening night, the show may need to be delayed until any danger of Covid is obviously eradicated.  Any

             member of the company who believes they have been exposed to Covid should IMMEDIATELY contact their director who should

             IMMEDIATLEY contact the producer.  The producer is responsible for notifying the Executive Committee.

 

       6.  If the producer and director agree that they do not want to wear face coverings (shields,  masks) for rehearsals and performances the

            following rules will apply:

                  - If you have not auditioned your cast, the decision MUST be disclosed at audition time that the company will not be using face                                  coverings.

                  - If you have already cast your show, this agreement has to 100% unanimous by the entire cast and crew.  If one actor feels unsafe, it is

                    your responsibility as a director to make them feel safe.  If that means wearing face coverings, you must make that the rule.  The one

                   exception is:

                              -- If one actor wishes to mask up and personally doesn’t care if the rest of the cast does not, then they are allowed to without

                              penalty.

                                            - Block as much social distancing into the show as is possible.

                                            - Watch your social media posts!  It is your responsibility to protect MSP/WPH image. 

                                            - If the board learns that any actor or technician feels uncomfortable and the director is not accommodating, the board

                                              will step in to rectify the situation.

 

This document will continue until such time that the CDC offers new guidelines which inform The Westfield Board to revoke or revise it.  As the Covid situation is ever changing, the Covid Committee can offer amendments to this document at any time which must then be passed by the entire board by majority vote.