Jon Bond heads to the Assembly Hall Theatre to watch the stage adaptation of one of his favourite books: Of Mice and Men.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a book that holds a place in my heart, as I studied it not once, but twice. Remarkably, for something I have studied to great depth and picked apart line by line, I still enjoy this American classic, which has been faithfully brought to stage at the Assembly Hall Theatre until Saturday March 31.
I was clearly not the only audience member viewing the performance with a studied knowledge of the plot as there were multiple school groups in the audience who were excited to see the story come to life. For those worried about this, you needn’t be – the groups were well-behaved and radiated energy as the drama mounted, really driving home the impact of the action unfolding.
For those unfamiliar with the story, George and Lennie, itinerant workers in the depression-era California dustbowl, travel from ranch to ranch to eke out a meagre living. Affected by a debilitating neurological condition from birth, Lennie’s personality is child-like and he depends on George for support. As they work to fulfil a semblance of the American dream, Lennie frequently gets the duo into trouble, forcing them to move-on and put their aspirations on hold. The subject matter is hard-hitting, tackling discrimination of all kinds and reflecting a time of perceived hopelessness, but the close bond between the protagonists lifts the experience, with subtle humour and charm.
I was impressed by just how faithful this adaptation was, as many scenes are (to the best of my memory!) word-for-word as they appear in the classic. If you are a school and haven’t booked tickets yet, get in there quickly! �
The set design is intentionally and effectively sparse, resembling the barn-like housing where the men on the ranch sleep. Beams move to create separate spaces to excellent effect, and although simple, is never dull. This is very much a play about conversation, with much of the story unfolding in the dialogue alone – the set certainly won’t distract from the words, and instead complements the drama and eases your imagination into the setting.
The casting is flawless – Richard Keightley as George is convincingly bristly, but caring, while Matthew Wynn plays Lennie with such convincing charm that the audience was visibly affected by aspects of the tragic plot; even Candy’s dog, a puppet on strings, was beautifully animated and I couldn’t help but feel attached to the misfortunate mutt.
Regardless of whether or not you are familiar with John Steinbeck’s classic, be sure to catch this performance during its limited run. Emotionally impactful and entertaining in equal measure, you will not be disappointed.
One of our featured events this week, Of Mice and Men is playing now and runs until Saturday March 31 at the Assembly Hall Theatre. To find out more and book tickets, head to www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
