In his 1937 novella Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck wrote: “As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment.” As it happens, Steinbeck could well have been writing about the stage adaptation of his story directed by Daren Scott and now on stage at the New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. It's a deliberately paced (especially in the first act) telling of the tale of migrant ranch workers George and Lennie in which systematic silences and aching tension predominates. Moments do indeed settle and hover during the two-and-a-half-hour staging, some more absorbing than others.
Moments stretch like hours as the actors, and the audience, wait in silence for the offstage mercy killing of a decrepit dog; and Lennie's accidental throttling of the ranch boss' son's wife, the tragedy that precipitates another, ultimate mercy killing, hovers effectively to the point where you want to look away. On the other hand, the opening-scene introduction of George and Lennie and the conversation they have prior to arriving at their new ranch jobs lags, as does some of the Act 1 interplay that follows. (Act 2, by comparison, is swift, violent and as impactful as a kick to the solar plexus.)
Part of NVA's season Ensemble Project, Of Mice and Men flexes its dramatic muscle on the strength of solid performances by Justin Lang as George and Manny fernandes as a poignant Lennie, with notable support from Jack Missett as old one-armed Candy and Kelly Iversen as the lonely, ill-fated wife of Curley (Kyle Lucy).
Of Mice and Men runs through Nov. 20 at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. $22-$38.
***
Kudos to directors Claudio Raygoza and Kim Strassburger for staging a slighter-than-Broadway but still-rousing Gypsy: A Musical Fable on Ion Theatre's BLK BOX @ 6th & Penn. Most of the classic Gypsy songs are re-created by pianist Wendy Thompson alone, and the sizable cast's stamping ground is no bigger than your average living room. But Gypsy is and will always be a beloved show, and this incarnation enjoys the special vibrancy of Katie Whalley as Louise and Helena Marie Woods as sister June. Linda Libby is a swell if not great Mother Rose.
Gypsy: A Musical Fable runs through Nov. 27 at BLK BOX @ 6th & Penn in Hillcrest. $10-$34.
Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com
Opening
The Circle: The Ssubi Foundation presents benefit performances of Tina Lifford's play about seven women facing life head-on.
Nov. 7 and 8 at Old Town Theatre. $35. thecircleplay.com
Daren Scott Come Fly Away: This new touring musical presented by Broadway San Diego merges the vocals of Frank Sinatra with the choreography of Twyla Tharp (“Movin' On”). Opens Nov. 8 at Civic Theatre, Downtown. Opens Nov. 6 at Sheryl & Harvey White Theatre in Balboa Park. $17- $73.50. broadwaysd.com
The Diary of Anne Frank: Wendy Kesselman's adaptation of the story of a courageous girl in hiding during the horror of World War II. Opens Nov. 4 at OnStage Playhouse in Chula Vista. $14-$16. onstageplayhouse.org
The Great American Trailer Park Musical: What do spray cheese, road kill, strippers and disco have in common? They're all part of this story of mobile-home denizens Norbert and Jeannie. Previews begin Nov. 5 (opens Nov. 11) at San Diego Repertory Theatre, Downtown. $33-$57. sdrep.org
Jane Austen Unscripted: Impro Theatre, an L.A.-based improvisational group, performs stories by the immortal literary figure. Nov. 7 at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach. $15-$20. northcoastrep.org
Prairie Lights: A Jewish brother and sister journey west on an orphan train in 1905 in this holiday musical. Opens Nov. 4 at Patio Playhouse in Escondido. $7-$10. patioplayhouse.com
Twelfth Night: Shakespeare's comedy of mischief and mistaken identity is presented in a joint production by the Old Globe Theatre and the USD Graduate Theater Program. Opens Nov. 6 at Sheryl & Harvey White Theatre in Balboa Park. $8-$19. oldglobe.org
Now Playing
Man of La Mancha: The actors are also the musicians in this staging of the Broadway musical that gave the world “The Impossible Dream.” Through Nov. 4 at Welk Resort Theatre in Escondido. $44-$47. welktheatersandiego.com
miXtape: Generation X was torn between disillusionment and hope in this cavalcade of music from the 1980s. Produced by Lamb's Players Theatre, it runs through Nov. 4 at the Horton Grand Theatre, Downtown. $28-$58. lambsplayers.org
Dead Man's Cell Phone: Technology and mortality intersect in this new comedy by MacArthur “Genius” Grant recipient Sarah Ruhl. Delicia turner Sonnenberg directs for Moxie Theatre. Through Nov. 6. $20-$40. moxietheatre.com
Fear Beautiful Fear: DangerHouse Productions presents works by Edgar Allan Poe in the Grand Guignol tradition. Through Nov. 6 at Victory Theater in Sherman Heights. $10-$15. dangerhouse13.com
Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show: Brad, Janet and, most importantly, Dr. Frank N. Furter return to the stage 38 years after a memorable debut in London and a film adaptation. Through Nov. 6 at the Old Globe Theatre, Balboa Park. $29 and up. oldglobe.org
Spring Awakening: This multiple-Tony winner (with music by Duncan Sheik) is presented by American Rose Theatre. Through Nov. 6 at Lyceum Theatre, Downtown. $20-$30. americanrosetheatre.com
The Glass Menagerie: Cygnet Theatre presents Tennessee Williams' dark and multilayered play about Amanda Wingfield, her son, her daughter and a gentleman caller. Through Nov. 13 at Old Town Theatre. $24-$49. cygnettheatre.com
Heroes: Tom Stoppard's adaptation of French playwright Gerald Sibleyras' comedy about three World War I veterans reminiscing and reflecting on their lives. Through Nov. 13 at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach. $32-$49. northcoastrep.org
Of Mice and Men: Daren Scott directs this stage adaptation of John Steinbeck's 1937 novel about George, Lennie and the California of the '30s. Through Nov. 20 at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. $22-$38. newvillagearts.org
The Servant of Two Masters: Former Lamb's Players Theatre staff member David McFadzean (who went on to create Home Improvement) returns to Coronado with a new Italian-flavored musical comedy. Through Nov. 20 at Lamb's Players Theatre in Coronado. $14-$60. lambsplayers.org
Gypsy: A Musical Fable: Ion Theatre presents the classic musical by Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents. Through Nov. 27 at BLK BOX @ 6th & Penn in Hillcrest. $10-$34. iontheatre.com
The Drowsy Chaperone: This show-within-a-show salute to the Jazz Age won the Tony for best musical in 2006. Through Dec. 4 at Coronado Playhouse. $20-$25. coronadoplayhouse.com
Shotgun Wedding Anniversary: How else can a miserable 25-year marriage end but in murder? Presented by Mystery Cafe, it's ongoing at Imperial House restaurant in Bankers Hill. $59.50, including dinner. mysterycafe.net