THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 21, 1995 TAG: 9504210530
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE: Theater review
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
``George, tell me about the rabbits.''
One of the most famous lines of stage and screen is from the John Steinbeck classic, ``Of Mice and Men.''
The line is uttered slowly, carefully, by Lenny - who has the mind of a child and the body of a warrior.
Both get him in trouble. His pal, George, tries to keep him out of trouble.
The pair are migrant farm workers in California in mid-Depression, the 1930s.
Their story is now being told by The University Players of Elizabeth City State University and, for the most part, it is well-told.
Many in the cast are newcomers, including Shaunell McMillan who portrays Lenny.
He has never been onstage before. But you'd never know it. His portrayal of the dimwitted character is right on the mark. But be warned - he talks slowly, moves slowly.
As befits his character, McMillan has to take time to think hard before speaking, before moving.
That means a rather slow pace. Once you get used to that, settle back and watch a fine performance, one you will talk about, favorably, long after you leave the theater.
Every McMillan utterance, movement and expression shows that he knows, and understands, Lenny.
Tony Zachary portrays his pal, George, the one who leads Lenny around and often gets disgusted with his inability to understand. The audience understands, though, that he will love and protect his friend.
The high-schooler's performance is decent, but he is sometimes stiff, sometimes looks uncomfortable.
Zachary's biggest problem is below the neck. He speaks like George, but too often, his body movements show that he is a little unsure of himself.
Shawn Smith, of course, is sure of himself. The ECSU director of Drama gets onstage every now and then. Watching him is a drama lesson unto itself.
He portrays Candy, an older migrant camp worker who befriends Lenny and George.
One scene he is in, with a dog that seems as well-trained as Lassie, is a gem.
The set, too, sparkles, nicely depicting the migrant camps of the '30s although, it is safe to say, they probably weren't quite as clean.
``Of Mice and Men'' centers on Lenny and George. But it is Steinbeck - and that means every character is clearly defined.
All of the ECSU performers are good - some going beyond that, particularly Tom Williams and Rosa ``DeeDee'' Riddick as the obnoxious Curley and his somewhat loose wife - two fine portrayals.
The young man putting the cast through its paces is backstage vet, but first-time director, Randy J. Berry.
His job is not easy, because he has to take a slow-paced play and keep the audience interested. He manages nicely.
The pace picks up in several scenes - one involving a fight, another involving a misunderstanding between Lenny and Curley's wife.
``Of Mice and Men'' takes awhile to establish its characters. It is never hurried. But it is always fascinating. by CNB