Of Mice and Men

Synopsis

Set against the harsh backdrop of the Great Depression, Of Mice and Men is the story of George and Lennie, two friends with a simple dream: to own a farm and live off the fat of the land. There are times, though, when sharpwitted George feels the burden of looking after Lennie, while gentle giant Lennie doesn't realise his own strength... As they drift from job to job, trouble's never far away, and before long it's time to move on again. When the pair get work in Soledad, California, however, the dream looks set to become a reality. But a tragic turn of events threatens to destroy George and Lennie's friendship and leaves George faced with an impossible choice...

Our Review:

19 January 2013

In their first production of the New Year, The Octagon stages John Steinbeck’s examination of male companionship and the enduring power of hope. Lennie (Kieran Hill) is physically powerful but has limited intellect and memory. Although safeguarded by the wily George (Andrew Langtree) his neediness and over-tactile nature constantly gets the duo in trouble. The fairy tale of setting up a farm that George uses to appease Lennie ironically provides a sense of purpose for some of the downtrodden characters that they encounter.

Steinbeck describes a merciless world in which pets (and by extension people) past their best are put down. Director David Thacker mitigates this bleak outlook into a gentler reflective mood of regret. Ciaran Bagnall’s adaptable set of muted browns creates an autumnal atmosphere but one with a dark undertone captured in a stream that looks stagnant rather than fresh. Fiona Hampson’s bright and sensual performance really stands out...

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