Pigs Rule, Not Ok

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday February 27, 2007

By KEN LONGWORTH

REVIEW

ANIMAL FARM

Presented by: Young People's Theatre

Venue: Young People's Theatre, Hamilton (4961 4895)

Season: February 21 to March 10

GEORGE Orwell's novel Animal Farm would seem to be unlikely material for a musical. And, in truth, the songs in this British National Theatre adaptation aren't likely to have people leaving the theatre humming the tunes.

But they are likely to depart impressed by the way the songs emerge from the story and situations. And they will certainly be stimulated by the staging of the musical numbers by director Nic Bryant and the teenage cast.

Animal Farm tells how the animals on an English farm revolt against the cruel and drunken farmer and after driving him away decide to observe the commandment that all animals are equal.

The pigs swiftly take charge and eventually the sly, ambitious and aptly named hog Napoleon eliminates his rivals for the leadership. Equality is forgotten as Napoleon becomes just as tyrannical as the former farmer.

This is not a show for small children, but the primary-aged youngsters at the performance I attended were as rapt in the action as the adults.

They seemed to have no trouble in following the story, from the early march-like anthem Beasts of England through to the sobering end.

It's not all gloom and doom, even though Orwell is intent on showing how easy it is for dictators to win ascendancy and dash the hopes of the people.

The mare Mollie, for example, who loves being pampered by humans, has a gentle song, 27 Ribbons, which is beautifully sung by Samantha Asser. Likewise, the revolt of the hens when ordered by the pigs to surrender their eggs for sale is strikingly staged, with the hens perched above the audience as they sing their defiance while Declan Egan's Napoleon counters with cunning words.

Bryant has chosen to have the actors dressed in human garb and to wear just partial face masks, with the costume designs of Vivien Jones cleverly straddling the real and fairy-tale worlds.

Thus, the villainous Napoleon is clad in black, while the democratic pig Snowball (Theo Rule) wears a dinner suit and bow tie. And the white-frocked hens, with their matronly strings of pearls, have red and pink leggings.

Perhaps the most inspired touch is having the dogs raised by Napoleon to be his storm-troopers moving around on roller-blades. There is menace to the way they dart in and out of the confused and frightened animals and, while most of the slaughter occurs offstage, the sight of the dogs is enough to suggest the horror. The use of red in the lighting design by Philip Paterson and Matthew Bevan is likewise unnerving.

The other technical work and the musical accompaniment also make solid contributions to a musical which is engrossingly different.

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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