“Grapes of Wrath” at Trinity Rep

by Richard Pacheco

Trinity Rep opens its 50^th season with a magical moving production of a new adaptation of John Steinbeck’s class Depression era saga, Grapes of Wrath a perfect blend of superb acting, inventive direction and original music in a must see production. “Grapes of Wrath” was adapted by Frank Galati from the novel written by John Steinbeck and published in 1939. For it he won the annual National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for novels and it was cited prominently when he won the Nobel Prize in 1962. A celebrated Hollywood film version, starring Henry Fonda and directed by John Ford, was made in 1940.

Set during the Great Depression, the novel focuses on the Joads, a poor family of tenant farmers driven from their Oklahoma home by drought, economic hardship, and changes in the agricultural industry forcing tenant farmers out of work brought about by the New Deal era Agricultural Adjustment Act. Due to their nearly hopeless situation and in part because they were trapped in the Dust Bowl, the Joads set out for California. Along with thousands of other "Okies", they sought jobs, land, dignity, and a future. Amidst the overriding sense of despair and hopelessness is an underlying binding love of family and decency which makes it all so transcendent.

The Frank Galati adaptation is brilliant and combined with the original folk rock music from Sherri Edlin and Zdenko Martin is stunning adding mood at atmosphere as well as a soulful element to the production. It is all propelled by superb acting across the boards. It is compelling and moving on so many levels. It leaves an indelible imprint on mind and soul.

Stephen Thorne is superb as Tom Joad, a Joad family member just paroled from prison after killing a man in a bar fight. When he returns home he finds his family tossed of the land and on the verge of moving to California to find work because someone passed along fliers saying that they needed workers to pick fruit in that state. Faced with this stunning predicament, Joad joins his family in the trek and invites their former preacher, Jim Casey along. Thorne is a masterful blend of seething anger, confusion and resentment and the injustices he sees, not just directed at his family but at others.

Anne Scurria., longtime Trinity Rep members dazzles as the rock steady Ma Joad, a woman bound to her family with love, dedication, steadiness and raw determination to carry on. Scurria is sheer delight, moving with extreme grace between reeling at a new disaster and a passionate desire to continue and triumph no matter what. Scurria is pitch perfect in the role, a delight to mind and heart.

Richard Donnelly is Pa Joad, a man of simple tastes and loyalties to his family an friends. Donnelly is wonderful in the role, a mixture of gritty down to earth steadfastness and persistence in the face of deep troubles and rugged simplicity. It is a deft and moving performance.

Joe Wilson Jr. is the reformed preacher Jim Casey who found himself to fond of the women at his prayer services for his own good. Wilson is right on the mark as this all to human former preacher, aware of his sins and not apologetic at all, in fact, almost taking pride in them. Wilson is a delightful mixture of home spun humor and honesty that is compelling and appealing.

Fred Sullivan Jr. is Pa’s brother John, a man beset by personal diamonds and overriding guilt which constantly gnaws away at his mind an heart and he is unable to shake loose of it no matter what he does. Sullivan aid tremendous in the role, masterfully blending the haunting despair and guilt with a passionate desire to be a better man.

Janice Duclos is Gramma Joad, a feisty old woman who speaks her mind and heart. Duclos ia a delight in the role, spirited and full of down home simplicity in winning mixtures.

Stepehen Berenson is Grapa Joad, irascible, outspoken with little or no shame. It is a winning and enticing performance, full of brash bravado and undeniable nuances.

Director Brian McEleny delivers a superbly articulated production of movement all over the stage and stairways and concocting a “truck” for the Joads to move to California.. His hand is sure and supple in this fantastic blend, guiding his actors with a subtle and inventive touch to keep this in the round production always vivid no matter where you sit.

The rest of the large cast is equally wonderful, full of honesty and energy throughout.

The original folk rock music penned by Sheri Eldin and Zdenko Martin is brilliant, aptly capturing the flavor of the Depression era with deft skill and powerful emotions. The house band for this,3pile is stunning blending in when needed adding an entire other emotional depth to the production.

The costumes by William Lane are evocative and accurate, giving the gritty flavor of Oakie dust and despair.

The set by Michael McGarty is a brilliant concoction of simplicity and evocativeness. A slab of stage in the center is surrounded by seats, while plunked in the middle is a live rustic country bar that actually serves patrons before the performance and during intermission.

The 17 member cast is pure delight, creating a vivid, palpable world of grit, dust and despair with a tingle of hope and humanity amidst it al. This is a must see production and it will leave an indelible tattoo on your mind, heart and spirit.

Continues until October 6. For tickets, call the box office at 401-351-4242. Adult ticket prices for A Christmas Carol start at Tickets are $36-$70. For information on group discounts for parties of 20 or more contact Group Sales at 401-351-4242 or online at online at: http://www.trinityrep.com