Make sure to check out our guide to the Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015
Of Mice & Men was required reading at my high school. I must admit I haven’t read or even thought about it since. Curiosity at viewing a stage interpretation led me to its Fringe performance. Produced by Projection Dance, there were two things that stood: powerful both physically and emotionally and the play’s fantastic score.
When Lennie (Andy Howitt) walks out on stage you’re immediately transported back your school day imagery of Lennie’s hulking silhouette. For me it was an instant, yep, that’s Lennie. His power is on full display throughout the performance with George taking his fair share of beatings. The show weaves its way through their friendship with moments of hilarity, slapstick and deeply moving fall outs.
The 1930s depression era score is fabulous. I loved how the team used it to break up tension from moment to moment and then immediately dived back into the foreboding inevitability of the play.
The performance was different to the traditional array of laughter that accompanies my typical Fringe Festival outings. It is a powerful performance and allows you to connect with the performers in an intimate setting. If you want to re-cant the story of friendship that is George and Lennie this is a wonderful journey to go on.
– Rukmal
Rukmal (Ruki) is The Plus Ones’ Managing Director. He looks after the marketing, technology, and finance areas of TPO and loves nothing more than analysing data and optimising campaigns. Okay, perhaps building a global digital media company is a touch more interesting. While he rarely writes articles these days, preferring to leave it to our incredible staff writers, he can occasionally tap his right brain.
Of Mice & Men is playing throughout the Fringe Festival check the website for dates and times.
