Steinbeck had an ability to portray with abiding compassion characters who had been battered emotionally and financially by the poverty endemic in American society during the Great Depression in the early 1930’s.
Such are the characters in his novella ‘Of Mice and Men’ (the title of which was taken from Robert Burns poem "To a Mouse"). It tells the story of Lennie Small, a simple-minded man with a huge physical strength, and George Milton, in many ways his opposite, as they roam the country, scratching out a meagre existence working on ranches.
The play is an excellent adaptation of the novella. Michael Roy Andrew as George and Nigel Miles-Thomas as Lennie give gripping performances.
With marvellous acting, and virtually no props - except the occasional movement of sacks - we are drawn into the pathos of their situation which ultimately ends in tragedy. It's well worth seeing.
14–31 August (not 17), 1.30pm (1 hour). Ticket prices: £9/£12 with concessions.