Human beings are hard-wired to think that once they attain certain goals they will be fulfilled.
But often, goals are tied to the idea of having someone to share them with as portrayed in the Scarborough Players latest show, the award-winning Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck.
When classics like this are staged, one hopes it will do some justice to the original. This cast delivered; not only were they exceptional in their roles, but after the first scene, anyone who loves live theatre, or this story, may remember exactly why they do.
In the first scene, friends George (Saad Siddiqui) and Lennie (David Cardinal) are perched alongside a river bank on their way to another ranch job, which was all the work they could find during this Depression-era story set in the California agricultural belt of the 1930s.
These childhood friends travel everywhere together, but it's not without its hardships. George promised to take care of Lennie and often becomes frustrated with him, the gentle giant who has the mind of a child and the strength of a bull.
George has to make sure he is fed and kept out of trouble, which becomes difficult because Lennie is always accidentally messing up. The two dream of one day owning a little farm of their own to live in peace and without worry of where their next meal will come from.
Once at the ranch, they meet the other workers, who at first glance are random men trying to earn their keep. Candy (Andrew Liptak) and old, one-armed man, Slim (Greg Nowlan), Whit (Scott Simpson), Carlson (Craig Estrella) and Crooks (Luke Robinson), who is segregated to a room in the barn at night because he is black.
There's also Curley (Michael Aceto), a punk and the boss's son; his lonely and promiscuous wife (Jennifer Polansky) and the boss (Gary Prudence).
However, through card games and conversation in their bunker, we see that each man has his own story of how he ended up on that ranch and how he, too, dreams of something more. George and Lennie's dream gives them hope.
We also hear the truth about why Lennie and George had to leave their last job and it foreshadows what they're up against, making their stay at this ranch as short-lived as the last. As the story turns tragic very quickly, George has to make the ultimate sacrifice to keep Lennie safe.
There are some powerful scenes throughout, like Lennie and Crooks talking about loneliness; Lennie and Curley's wife in the barn about not being accepted and Candy opening up to George and Lenny of his fear of being discarded.
We learn that Lennie isn't the only misfit and they're all experiencing their own need to belong.
From his dialogue delivery to his physical performance, Cardinal as Lennie is brilliant. A newcomer to the Scarborough Players stage, his debut performance will be a hard one to top. Siddiqui as George is also exceptional, and the two of them together had a sincerity and power that is moving to watch.
The performances in this show were what made it a success. Each actor evoked a strong emotion making you really feel for their individual characters, especially Liptak as Candy, Robinson as Crooks and Polansky as Curley's wife.
This show is moving and shocking and you'll be thinking about it long after it's over.
The remaining show dates for Of Mice and Men are Jan. 15 to 17 and 22 to 24 at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Jan. 18. Scarborough Village Theatre is at 3600 Kingston Rd. Tickets are $17 for adults, $14 for seniors and students, Thursdays and Sunday only. Student rush tickets are $10. For tickets, call 416-396-4049 or visit www.theatrescarborough.com.