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John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” is coming to The Adobe Theater, opening Friday, April 10, and running through Sunday, May 3.

The story takes place during the Great Depression and follows two migrant farm workers, George and Lennie. As they move from farm to farm, they face issues of discrimination, racism and poverty, show director Nancy Sellin, said.

“This play is, in many ways, very typical of the time, and also it speaks to a lot of the issues we still experience here,” Sellin said.

She said, at its core, the show is a tragic love story between two friends who are trying to realize their dream of owning a farm, but keep running into obstacles.

Lennie is portrayed as a character with a learning disability and George has taken him under his wing, she said.

“It’s a very much of a parental, childlike relationship, because Lenny is so innocent and so sweet,” Sellin said, “and yet he’s so big and strong. He just doesn’t realize his own strength and that gets him in trouble.”

Sellin said the relationship between the two is seen as unusual by other characters because it was rare for farm workers to travel together, let alone form strong relationships.

Sharing the stage with the actors playing George and Lennie is a real-life dog, Bowie.

“He learned his lines right away and everything,” Sellin said. “He’s adorable.”

“Of Mice and Men” was first published as a novel before being adapted into a play. Sellin said the novel translates well to the stage.

“It’s so brilliant, and the relationships are very simple and true,” Sellin said, “and there’s a lot of … just kind of intimate moments in this, as far as what they’re going through and how they live through this era. It’s very, very touching in many ways.”

She said The Adobe brought “Of Mice and Men’s” 1930s setting to life through period-accurate costumes and four different sets.

Sellin added her own experience. Her parents lived through the Great Depression and she grew up during the tail end of the era.

“It was definitely a part of my upbringing as well,” Sellin said.

She said representations of these time periods are important because modern-day audiences can still relate emotionally, psychologically and physically to what people lived through back then.

That is why “Of Mice and Men” has stood the test of time and will remain relevant decades from now, she said.

“Human emotions are always going to be present,” Sellin said. “They’re never going to change.”

Elizabeth Secor is an arts fellow from the New Mexico Local ����������ϼ� Fellowship program. You can reach her at esecor@abqjournal.com.