Of Mice and Men, Montreal Theatre Ensemble, Aug. 28-Sept. 13

Of Mice and Men

By John Steinbeck

Directed by Terry Donald

Thursday, August 28 – Saturday, September 13, 2008

George: "We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. "

Lennie: "Because I got you to look after me¬Ö and you got me to look after you."

Montreal, July 2008- Montreal Theatre Ensemble (MTE), in association with the John Abbott College Department of Theatre and Music, is excited to present their fourth production, Of Mice and Men, by Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck, playing at the Casgrain Theatre from August 27 to September 13. MTE is dedicated to providing quality work experience for professionally trained, emerging theatre artists. This production also marks the inaugural mentor initiative, the Stage Two series.

Of Mice and Men tells the heartrending story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers in Great Depression-era California. 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 in the body of a dangerously powerful man. When tragedy strikes, it's obvious that Lennie, though unintentionally, is responsible. George is faced with how to handle the situation before the ranchers take matters into their own hands. The title is taken from Robert Burns' poem, To a Mouse- "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry."

Director Terry Donald (2008 winner of Black Theatre Workshop's Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award) explains his choice of this classic piece, "A well-written story exposes to a great level, the human condition." He continues, "With a writer of Steinbeck's calibre, both the actor and audience learn about themselves." As Artistic Director of MTE, one of Terry's ideas for the company is to give up-and-coming actors a chance to sink their teeth into a variety of roles, some of which they may not otherwise have an opportunity to play. He is delighted with the wonderfully, surprising results this often brings.

Rebecca Croll (Curley's Wife) talks about how Steinbeck's play resonates with today's audience, "A recession is growing all around us as the price of gas goes up, homes get repossessed and unemployment skyrockets. We are verging on another depression where the luxuries of life are no longer an option for many." She continues, "I think people will forget that this is a story they grew up with and will be there with us in the moment." Christopher Moore (Curley) sees the piece as depicting The American Dream of owning a home, regardless of time period, race, sex, etc., "In Of Mice and Men, everyone is a dreamer, and to some degree, is yearning after something more."

Joining Adam LeBlanc as George and Peter Vrana as Lennie are Herschel Andoh, Rebecca Croll, Bill Fletcher, Alex McCooeye, Christopher Moore, Matthew Raudsepp and Aaron Turner. Rounding out the team is set and lighting designer Peter Vatsis, costume designer Karine Lefebvre, props designers Sheena Gazˆ©-Deslandes and Karen Gomes, and stage manager Christine Gosselin.

About Montreal Theatre Ensemble (MTE) and Stage Two

Originally formed by graduates of the John Abbott College Theatre Program, MTE now promotes the careers of a new generation of young professionals from various accredited theatre training programs. Previous productions include Miller's A View from the Bridge, Wertenbaker's Our Country's Good and Mastrosimone's The Woolgatherer.

This season, the John Abbott College Department of Theatre and Music embarks on a new venture by launching its Stage Two series. In an attempt to expose students in the College's Professional Theatre Program to the world outside their training environment, the Department will be hosting visiting theatre companies who will share their experience and open their rehearsals to the present theatre students. Students have access to the whole professional theatre process and can choose to gain experience working on various production aspects. The first visiting company will be the Montreal Theatre Ensemble. MTE has also donated money to the Department in the past and hopes to continue this in an ongoing scholarship.

"Ain't many guys travel around together. Maybe everybody in the whole damn world is scared of each other." -Slim

Of Mice and Men
Montreal Theatre Ensemble
Casgrain Theatre

In the Casgrain Building of John Abbott College

21, 275 Lakeshore Road
Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec

(directions to theatre on website, www.mtlte.com/english/about.html#directions)

Tuesday to Saturday 8:00 p.m.

Matinˆ©e: Sundays, 2:00 pm

15$ Regular / $10 Students, seniors

Reservations: (514) 515-9140 or sales@mtlte.com