Of Mice and Men – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

A classic literary tale, often studied by many British students as part of the GCSE syllabus, Of Mice and Men tells the story of George and Lennie as they traverse California in search of work during the Great Depression. Based on John Steinbeck’s novel, originally released in 1937, this production spotlights a typical ranch filled with migrant farmworkers who simply needed to survive the economic landscape. Despite the historic setting, the play’s themes of hope, misunderstanding and brotherhood still resonate with a modern audience, making the piece as poignant now as it was when first performed nearly 90 years ago.

Upon entering the theatre, audiences are immediately transported to the Salinas Valley, with a quote from Robert Burns acting as a precursor for the story due to follow. Falling under Director Joseph Meighan’s jurisdiction, the set design is impactful throughout, especially when imagining the different areas of the ranch. Combined with effective lighting design, crafted by James Merrington, the story is elevated to new heights and helps to not only transition scenes seamlessly but add dramatic tension when needed.

When not handling the set design, Joseph Meighan also shines through his direction. His ability to allow his capable cast to bring forward the humanity of the characters meant that the production felt incredibly authentic and not over dramatised. I was particularly impressed with his staging choices for Lennie’s pivotal scene with Curley’s Wife in the barn, which had the audience grimacing at the unintended brutality of the scene, and of course the dramatic conclusion of the play between George and Lennie.

Original music for this production has been composed by Mark Goggins, helping to add illustration to the play’s setting. The folk-style instrumental added to the impressive set to deepen the production’s 1930’s environment. At times when used over dialogue, I did find the music to be distracting, making the strong American accents sometimes difficult to decipher.

I thought that Pete Brassington gave a particularly strong performance as Lennie, managing to sensitively handle the intellectual disability of the character without overacting or feeling like a caricature. It was clear to see the meticulous time taken to develop the character, with the use non-verbal techniques adding depth to the character. The character’s humanity especially showed in scenes shared with his co-lead Michael Gallagher in the role of George. 

They say you should never work with animals or children, but this production seamlessly integrated Izzy the Lurcher in the role of Candy’s Dog. Izzy quickly grabbed the audience’s attention and created an audible reaction, with a few wept tears from the audience, as the dog’s character concludes. Bill Platt as Candy not only manages the handling of Izzy on stage masterfully but overall gave a heartbreaking performance. The character unashamedly gets on board with George’s promise of the American Dream, which Bill Platt expertly meanders as that dream quickly fails to translate into reality.

The entire cast puts in valiant effort, but despite being in smaller roles, both Aidan Burgess and Joseph Jacobs shone as fellow farmworkers Whit and Crooks respectively. Natalie Boyd added the only female voice to the cast as Curley’s Wife, her portrayal of a bored housewife with her an American Dream of her own was poignant, especially when in scenes with Pete Brassington’s Lennie.

Overall, this production was able to bring an emotional and authentic retelling of this legendary literary story. Despite a few stumbles with cues and some slipping American accents, this production was an enjoyable invitation to join George and Lennie on their search for a brighter future.

Of Mice and Men is running at the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse until 18^th May. More information here: https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/shows/mice

Reviewer: Harry Alty

Reviewed: 8th May 2025

North West End UK Rating: