Even in today’s world, the word “communism” makes people nervous; this is especially true for those of our parents’ generations and especially our grandparents’. The nervousness they show is a side effect of the fear that also inspired works of Cold War literature. One such work was George Orwell’s novel, Animal Farm, which has since been adapted as a play and is currently being performed at the U’s student-run Babcock Theater. On Oct. 2, opening night, the theater was filled with people and anticipation permeated every open space.
Made more for thinking than for mindless entertainment, the story of “Animal Farm” mirrors the events of the Bolshevik Revolution up to the establishment of Communist Russia under Stalin, except with animals instead of humans. These animals are inspired by a Lenin-like figure to engage in a revolution against the lazy farmer whose chronic failure to feed his animals pushes them to the breaking point. The revolution leads to initial fairness for all the animals, but this is not where the story ends; things begin to go downhill after only a short time. Before anyone knows it, the laws ensuring equality for everyone have become equality for only some with the phrase, “All animals are created equal. But some animals are more equal than others.”
All of Animal Farm‘s most important characters are animals; however, given that training animals to do things like read and talk is a difficult process (one that is actually discussed, interestingly enough, to some degree in the course of the play), the cast was entirely human. Elaborate costumes were employed to bridge the gap between reality and the imaginary with stilts, masks and tight clothing. Used in addition to the actors’ small but realistically animal-like movements and sounds, these actors were able to create a believable illusion that was part of what made the show so fascinating and entertaining.
All in all, the show was incredibly well done. Running for approximately 90 minutes with no intermission, the story moves quickly for those with an interest in its message. The totalitarian culture communism produced in Russia is one that has been replicated in diverse ways all over the world, including in America with Senator McCarthy and the Red Scare, and because of this, “Animal Farm” reminds audiences of the dangers of power. As this show proves, power has the ability to corrupt animals (and people) no matter what their initial intentions were in gaining it.
Animal Farm will continue to play at Babcock Theater from Oct. 8 to Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. each night with a matinee on Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. Tickets are free with a UCard and can be purchased at Kingsbury Hall in advance (probably wise, since the theater fills quickly) or on the night of the performance at the ticket booth next to the Babcock Theater.