Of Mice And Men

West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

4 Stars

Of Mice And Men's key themes of job insecurity, alienation and powerlessness still resonate today.

Their echoes through history are left to speak for themselves in Mark Rosenblatt's new production of John Steinbeck's classic novella, which takes a traditional rather than overtly contemporary approach to its epic staging.

At its heart is Max Jones's set design, which perfectly captures the dustbowl plains of Soledad through which streetwise George (Henry Pettigrew) and his childlike friend Lennie (Dyfrig Morris) drift in search of work while chasing the American Dream.

Riverside brush, endless crop fields and a windmill turning lazily in the breeze occupy the space that is subtly contemporised with the introduction of live music, performed by actors upstage on battered piano and double bass.

Rather than the obvious, hard-bitten sound of Depression-era Woodie Guthrie, there's avant-Americana from musical director and composer Heather Christian.

The opening scene suggests that music is going to have a prominent place in the production, as Christian - playing the unhappy wife of the ranch owner's son - walks barefoot across the stage intoning atmospheric hymnals. It turns out to be something of a red herring as the incidental musical is thereafter largely confined to set changes and adds very little overall.

While the musical potential may be underused, the cast teases out the corrosive effects of loneliness with such conviction that it redeems the production. The fate of the central duo's friendship, in particular, is powerfully foreshadowed by that of ageing work hand Candy (Johnson Willis) and his beautifully designed puppet dog.

It's this use of the personal to illustrate the societal that makes Steinbeck's novella such a standard text for students and why this production ticks so many of the right boxes in bringing that analogy to the fore.

Runs until March 29. Box office: 0113 213-770.