Review: OF MICE AND MEN, Birmingham Rep
Photo credit: Mark Senior
At over 80 years old, Of Mice and Men is a literary mainstay. Whether through film, theatre or GCSE textbook, the story of friendship and the American dream during John Steinbeck’s lifetime still resonates today.
Lennie and George are as close as friends can be. George feels a deep love but also responsibility for Lennie and often tries to shield him from the harsh realities of life. They move from farmland to farmland to find work and one day dream of making enough money to buy their own land. When their dream finally seems in sight, tragedy strikes which causes their friendship to change forever.
We start off with Lennie and George having just got off a bus and attempting to find a new place of work. The set is sparse and appears dry; it creates a sombre yet playful atmosphere. A live guitar plays peacefully as we see the childlike Lennie play with George jumping over a river made of red fabric. He jumps over and over again, each time making sure George is watching. The red fabric then becomes encompassed all around his body, a clever, yet subtle, hint of things to come.
The chemistry between George (played by Tom McCall) and Lennie (played by William Young) is undeniable and you are rooting for them and their friendship before either of them say their first line. When they reach the farm, the set changes whilst the cast sing a powerful and beautifully harmonised song, popularised by activist Pete Seeger from the 1930s ‘Which Side Are You On?’.
The set rarely changes during the play but when it does, it is always purposeful and true to the character of the piece. At the farm, we meet the star of the show, Candy’s skeletal dog in the form of a beautiful puppet (controlled by Jake Benson). The old and haggard dog’s tail wags and his ribs move as he breathes; a beautiful and simple connection that gives the dog life. The role of Candy (played by Lee Ravitz) is also worth a mention. Ravitz inhabits a desperate, old and often ignorant man who also has so much humour and life left to give; a visceral and successful balancing act.
Despite its ongoing relevance, it cannot be ignored that the story itself has seen some controversy. This is mainly due to its representation of people with disabilities, not to mention it’s seemingly one-dimensional representation of people of colour and women. During this production, however, both Curley’s wife and Crooks are given more air time and allow the audience to sympathise with their characters and ultimately their lives during this time period.
Of Mice and Men is filled with quiet and beautifully understated moments. The set is sublime, the choral singing is spine-tingling and when the action comes, you are fully immersed in the story. It may be old but this brand-new production by Iqbal Khan will have your heart racing.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Sophie Eaton
Of Mice and Men plays at Birmingham Rep until 8 April, with further information here.