Of Mice and Men, which is based on the Steinbeck classic, follows George and Lennie, two friends who find themselves with a job on a Californian ranch during the Great Depression. Along the story, they meet and work alongside a number of other people, some of whom come to share their dream of owning their own place, before a heart-breaking conclusion. Of Mice and Men remains relevant today, focusing on friendship, hopes, and discrimination.
The cast are outstanding. Liam King, who plays George, is a standout. He encapsulates the character amazingly, showing George’s frustration of trying to look after Lennie despite his behaviour, and the life he could have if Lennie wasn’t around, whilst showing love towards someone he deeply cares for. This is not always an easy balance, but he does it so well. The whole cast portray their characters amazingly – it feels like being transported back to reading the book and is a joy seeing the characters come to life in such a vivid way.
The set (Jess Curtis) is simple, yet very effective. Wooden boards are utilised in different ways to show the bunk house, Crooks’ room, the barn, and time spent outside, with additional set pieces to build up simple sets which are used effectively. The lighting (Simeon Miller) and sound (Ivan Stott) help create the ambiance of these spaces. This is most strongly felt in the moments of quiet in the show, the lulls in conversation and the quietness of company which often happen throughout the story.
The show remains true to the book, following the plot very closely. This means that the show feels slow, but in a good way; we are treated to some of the mundane, everyday aspects of the characters’ lives, rather than them rushing through the content of the book for the sake of creating some big moments. There were some changes to the names used for Crooks, not using the racial slurs used within the book. However, as a main part of Of Mice and Men, the show does still cover racism, ableism, and misogyny, which keeps the show relevant, even today.
Overall, this production of Of Mice and Men is a fantastic adaptation of the Steinbeck novella and a gripping piece of theatre.
Of Mice and Men runs at Hull Truck Theatre until 22nd March.
★★★★☆ (4*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Graeme Braidwood
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