Writer: John Steinbeck
Director: Sarah Brigham
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck follows two displaced ranch workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, during the Great Depression as they travel through California in search of work. This thrilling and necessary play is a staple set text for English lessons in schools and colleges up and down the country, and has been for years.
Performed here in Hull Truck’s main house space this compelling drama explores “edge of the seat” language, using suspense and stillness to add to the drama; the director opting for purity over artistry, steering clear of a more fancy, stylised approach – except for the actor-puppeteers who bring to life Candy’s Dog (Hull Truck have a strict no live animal policy). This is a safe and attentive offering, literal in its staging with some visceral performances.
The writing is a thing of beauty and Sarah Brigham directs with some understanding of the text allowing the dialogue to shine through. The cast are mostly good, although Wiliam Young’s Lennie doesn’t quite land. The gentle hum of the crickets add to the show’s intentionally sluggish pace and at times you could almost hear a pin drop. This isn’t an easy watch by any means due to the play’s disturbing themes of race, ableism and class. The production sticks to the original text and, though some may feel this show is of its time, it is still the same masterpiece that feels purposeful and profound because of Steinbeck’s brilliant writing. It just goes to show that this classic little gem of a play still resonates today even if this particular offering isn’t as thought-provoking as one might have liked.
Traditionally staged and adequately handled, Of Mice and Men is one of those exemplar plays that you should experience at least once in a lifetime – your reviewer is just not sure if this production is the one that will stick. It delivers a powerful and emotionally charged exploration into the human psyche with a commanding central performance by Liam King as George; a gripping portrayal that really holds this production together, but the character balance in contrast and dynamics between him and Lennie is lack-lustre as Young struggles to give anything back. This is, after all, a world of hardship and fleeting dreams.
Scenes are crafted with care, making the emotional moments hit hard but the less is more approach from some of the players, particularly in the first half, make this hard hitting drama more like a game of Euchre in the hot Californian sun.
The adaptation (a co-production between Truck and Derby Theatre) is faithful and mostly well-executed. However it perhaps plays things a little too safe as it stays within familiar territory and is often void of taking creative risks that might have added new layers to the story. This isn’t necessarily a flaw (we are coming up to the GCSE season) but it does leave the production feeling slightly predictable.
Still, the strength of the script alone makes this a compelling watch. It’s a solid adaptation that captures the heart of the novella even if it doesn’t push the same distressing boundaries. This is a classic story written some 90 years ago, and though some productions feel dated, this production clearly demonstrates that, through the writing, Steinbeck lives on.
Runs until 22nd March 2025
