The Grapes of Wrath
Central Wyoming College is putting on an epic-sized stage adaptation of a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel in the shortest rehearsal schedule ever.
A cast of 35 actors playing as many as four roles each are staging "The Grapes of Wrath," a drama adapted by Frank Galati from John Steinbeck's novel Nov. 14-16 and Nov. 21-22 in the Robert A. Peck Arts Center Theatre. The show opens each night at 7:30 p.m. except on Sunday, Nov. 16 when CWC presents 2:30 p.m. matinee.
"It's a huge monster of a play," said CWC Theater Director Mike Myers, who notes that the large cast is staging this production with only four weeks of rehearsal rather than the usual six weeks. "The props list is five pages long and is continuing to grow every night. It's just a big play."
But the cast, blended with community actors and CWC students, is talented and he expects the show will be a success despite the enormous undertaking.
The show is a story of the Joad family who was reduced to poverty after the dustbowl in Oklahoma caused them to lose their farm. They pile their belongings into an old battered vehicle and head to California with a hope they'll find work and a better life.
The play is particularly relevant as the U.S. economy teeters on the edge of a recession, said Myers, who emphasized that it was a coincidence that he selected this play last spring. And yet, despite the stark realities of the Great Depression, Myers assures audiences that the play is uplifting because of its depiction of the triumph of the human spirit.
"I don't think people appreciate how hard life was in earlier generations," the director said. "If people think they have problems now, they should look at what people went through in the depression, in World War I and World War II."
The play, which Myers said is faithful to the Steinbeck novel, will leave the audience inspired. "That the reason it has endured," said Myers. "They go through terrible experiences, but ultimately, it's uplifting. It leaves you feeling inspired by their courage, fortitude and spirit. It teaches you about people facing tremendous obstacles."
In addition to the short rehearsal schedule, the play requires multiple set changes as the Joads travel west to California. About half of the play is set in California where millions migrated from the Midwest during the depression.
"The characters, the language and the story are all interesting," he emphasized. "You've got complex interesting and colorful characters painting a picture of a different time."
Tickets, $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and students, are available at the CWC Box Office from 3-6 p.m. weekdays. Tickets may also be reserved by leaving a voice mail at 855-2002 or 800-865-0190 or by emailing tickets@cwc.edu.