Chris Eldon Lee reviews Tin Shed Theatre Company’s production of “Of Mice and Men” which is at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn until Wednesday 5th February 2014
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing a number of theatrical productions of John Steinbeck’s gritty story “Of Mice and Men” – but I’m afraid Tin Shed’s is the weakest.
It’s a heart-wrenching account of the dreams of two hapless Californian ranch hands trying to keep themselves in work during the Great Depression. Steinbeck’s script cuts sharply to the hopelessness of the times, especially as one of the partners is mentally challenged and the other is burdened by a promise to take care of him.
The script and the two central performances just about save this show.
Antonio Rimola is relaxed and considered as George; a thinking, caring man in a roughshod world. Rimola is particularly strong when reiterating his dream of finding “a little place of my own where Lennie and I can live off the fat of the land”. But with each retelling, the gleam in his eye diminishes as the stark reality of their situation crowds in. It’s a nicely nuanced performance.
Robert Hopkins as his big-kid sidekick is excellent, portraying Lennie’s learning difficulties with charm and sensitivity. Getting inside a muddled mind is not easy and, whilst Steinbeck’s pen portrait of Lennie is helpfully well drawn, it takes an actor of considerable physical and mental stature to do the part full justice…which Hopkins achieves with apparent ease.
Unfortunately the rest of the show lets them down.
The theatre company simply fails to fill the space. The set creates no illusion and no matter how much they faff around with it between scenes, it still looks the same. The show is played way too far down stage so that the audience at the back has to crane to see the detail (something which should have been corrected after the first performance). And some of the other acting is far too fussy and teeters on the edge of amateurism.
Dramatic opportunities are missed. Steinbeck introduces a seductive woman to bring matters to a head – but she is strangely played without passion or persuasion and her demise is hopelessly ham fisted. And his inspirational, campaigning heart of the play – when the young and fit ranch hands go into town leaving the three broken men behind to compare their fates – just drifts aimlessly along. This is the author’s early cry for equality for black and disabled people – but it’s played too low key to make its points.
Theatre Severn should be commended for programming such an important play and filling five houses with impressionable, school-age minds. It’s just a pity that the product doesn’t match their aspirations.
Visit www.theatresevern.co.uk for bookings & information about Theatre Severn