Last week I had the privilege to see the Westport Country Playhouse's production of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Mark Lamos who took over as director from Paul Newman, has utilized the talents of a superlative cast in a beautifully realized setting, thus creating a powerful interpretation of this classic play.
After seeing it, I started to ponder the path of this work. It was written as a novel, adapted for the stage, made for the movies and television and composed as an opera.
The opera's libretto and music were written by Carlisle Floyd in 1970 and has been produced by regional houses throughout the United States including the Glimmerglass Opera, the Houston Grand Opera and the New York City Opera. The compact disc recording by the Houston Grand Opera features the masterful tenor performance of Anthony Dean Griffey as Lennie. He captures the character's child-like innocence, panic-stricken savagery and sad vulnerability with dramatic intensity, excellent diction and a huge, magnificent voice. You may remember his remarkable performance last year as Peter Grimes at the Metropolitan Opera.
Before attending the play, be sure to stop at the Library for the audiobook, the book, the movie, the opera or the play.
