Of Mice and Men at Theatre by the Lake Keswick Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Jo Hardy

Based on the John Steinbeck classic from 1937, unlike many people I didn’t study this book at school and haven’t read it since so I was not at all familiar with the story.

I did read a list of advisory warnings about the content before I entered the auditorium and do remember calls for the book to be taken off the school curriculum so I was expecting something a little controversial.

The stage set was simple with minimum props and entirely apt for the story, the sense of being in a hot dusty place was created mainly by the golden light peeping through the wood panelled walls of the barn where all the ranch workers lived, there were times when I thought the intensity of the sun matched the intensity of the scene that was being played out.

The costumes were all very brown and cream, perfect for the era and location of the story.

Set on an American ranch, the story centres on two unlikely friends George and Lennie who arrive at the ranch to start a new job as farm hands. Lennie has some learning difficulties and George has unwittingly become his friend and carer. George was desperate for a better life and Lennie loved to listen to the plans and dreams that George had for them both. There is a hint of them having to leave their last job because of Lennie’s behaviour and throughout the story there was an underlying tension building, I could sense that this wasn’t going to have a happy ending.

All credit to Liam King who played George he had such a huge part of the dialogue and delivered it all perfectly, his American drawl never slipped.

William Young who played Lennie also deserves a lot of credit he showed us the gentle side of Lennie but at the same time I knew there was something else in him that could explode at any time, his large, powerful, dangerous hands were never still.

In the second half Jeff Alexander as Crooks brings just a touch of lightness and humour into the story which I was ready for.

The large cast all worked work in this intense dialogue packed production, I felt like I’d worked a full shift just being in the audience.

This story touches on some complex issues like prejudice and racism which you might say are still relevant today but it is also a story of great friendships, hopes and dreams.

Rating: 4/5

A joint production with Derby Theatre Hull Truck Theatre and The Octagon Bolton Of Mice and Men is at Theatre by the Lake 16th April – 3rd May ticket price start at £12 and are available from www.theatrebythelake.com

The show runs for 2 hours 30 mins including a 20 min interval, shows start at 7.30 and there are matinees on selected dates, suitable for age 13 up.