IF MATTHEW Kelly could journey through the misty doors of his own karaoke show, would you expect a polished actor to emerge? I certainly wouldn't have.

But after Kelly's moving Of Mice And Men performance in Blackpool this week, I have to admit I was wrong.

What a superb production this was, with Kelly's spot-on casting as gentle giant Lennie, helped by his quicker-witted but pipe-dreaming pal George played by George Costigan. We joined the itinerant odd couple of Steinbeck's classic as they wandered the Depression hit California of the 1930s looking for farm work.

Their talk of owning their own farm might have been faintly possible, but disappeared as we helplessly watched Lennie's childish mind and uncontrolled strength became a combination by turns more sad and sinister.

Apart from the spot-on Kelly/Costigan combination, there were cracking individual performances from Joanne Moseley as the frustrated wife of the boss's son, Julian Protheroe as the even-headed Slim and Tyrone Huggins as the put-upon stable hand Crooks.

Be warned: the language can be quite choice and it's a play that pulls no punches quite literally.

But with such a thoughtfully lit and crafted set, clever staging and great acting all round, this is a delight not to be missed.