Reviewed at Leeds Playhouse by Michelle Rawlins
Set in California during the Great Depression, migrant farm labourers George and Lennie are desperate to make their way in life, and despite the odds, live the American Dream.
The unlikely pair, who have each other, and not much else, are representative of more than one generation of people who have and are struggling against economic downturn, racism and loneliness. And a society in which you struggle to escape from the lot you were born with.
It goes without saying the hard-hitting themes of John Steinbeck’s novel, first published in 1937, still strike a chord with today’s audience, nearly ninety years later, as it sharply highlights the prejudices and inexcusable exclusion still prevalent in contemporary society.
Iqbal Khan’s well executed adaptation, for Birmingham Rep, of the dialogue-rich novella, which is still ever present on school curriculums, doesn’t stray far from the original text. But what he does superbly is create a strikingly powerful piece of theatre, which reminds the audience of the harsh inequalities of life.
William Young, who was born with a rare brain condition, plays an excellent Lennie, perfectly capturing the gentle giant’s soft-hearted and loyal nature, as well as effectively illustrating the flinching scorn he is frequently subjected to due to his complex learning difficulties.
His unfaltering, loyal companion, George (Tom McCall), faithfully shoulders the pain intended for George, who ‘ain’t bright but can do the work of ten men’.’ He protectively guides him with an affectionate mix of fatherly and brotherly love, with the hope a better life is just around the corner. Even when the eventual realisation of this naive dream dawns upon the stronger of the two friends, culminating in the heart stopping finale, George never allows Lennie to stop believing in their hopes for a utopian future.
The original, unapologetic narrative was enhanced by a strong supporting cast, including Reece Pantry, who plays black stable hand, Crooks. He perfectly illustrates what it’s like to be at the bottom of the social ladder due to the colour of your skin, and the unjust impossibility of never being elevated from a brutally unfair, predestined place in life.
The strikingly simple, yet effective, set, designed by Ciaran Bagnall, made of railroad like wooden slats, which discreetly close in at points during the performance, amplifies the sombre atmosphere and the sparseness life has to offer those who are reliant on others to provide them with just enough to survive.
This is, and always has been, a powerful and thought-provoking story of resilience, hope and love, where dreams aren’t just made, but are, fundamentally, needed, to survive. Yet they’re only tocruelly dashed in the most brutal of manners, revealing how indominable life can be for those who are forced to try and navigate a system that will never allow them to succeed.
Khan does an excellent job of successfully transporting this classic, and nuanced, novel to the stage. He delivers a compelling piece of theatre, with the sensitivity and empathy required, allowing a new audience to appreciate the multifaceted complexities of Steinbeck’s renowned masterpiece.
Showing until May 27 2023
Tickets here
Images: by Kris Askey and Mark Senior