It was almost as frightening as the book
Said my companion after watching Radial Theater Project’s production of the adaptation of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984, adapted by Michael Gene Sullivan. Indeed, it was frightening in the traditional sense of a conspiracy driven thriller-there was a lot of tension about whether their illicit external behavior would get them caught, but the really frightening aspect was how totalitarianism can totally control people’s thoughts, emotions and behavior, thereby creating perpetual war, poverty as well as destroying the most intimate relationships. Thrown in there was one of Orwell’s favorite topics; how the debasement of language is used to distort and deny the truth.
The author adapted the plot of the book very well to fit a stage; all the scenes were recounted and re-enacted from the infamous “Room 101” where Winston Smith, was interrogated, tortured and eventually is broken; accepted “thought control” and became a model citizen.
Winston Smith is a low-level official in the Ministry of Truth, whose task is to change the documents every time history is re-written, which is fairly often. The world has been divided into three major empires, perpetual war wages but the empires keep changing sides, so he has plenty of work to do. He starts an illicit affair with a co-worker, who initially appears to be a loyal and enthusiastic party member, but is in fact a rebel. Thinking that they are joining the resistance, they in fact are entrapped by the thought police. Winston is tortured physically but the real torture is mental.
(N.B. During World War II, Orwell worked for the BBC broadcasting to India, because he had served in the Colonial Service in the Indian Police in Burma. He also worked for the Ministry of Information. At the same time, his first wife, Eileen, worked in the censorship department, so he knew first hand that the British covered up Russian atrocities during the war such as the Katyn Massacre)
David Gassner did a superb job of directing an ensemble of fantastically talented actors, with precision choreography and meticulous timing. As Winston Smith, Ryan Higgans, who bore a striking resemblance to Rasputin, portrayed a haunted man, using an expressive voice. Four cast members played different roles as his torturers, his colleagues, neighbors, the shop-keeper who betrays him, and his lover Julia. Each actor was able to switch roles seamlessly with complete clarity to great effect. Marianna de Fazio as Julia and as a party member put in a terrific performance.
K. Brian Neel as the First Party Member, who played a variety of roles and played Winston as the story is recounted, put in a tour-de-force performance. Kayla Walker as the Telescreen Announcer used a seductive voice which reminded me of Big Nurse in One Flew Over the Cukoo’s Nest. She also added quite a bit of Comic Relief.
Technically, everything worked to create the eerie frightening atmosphere, the set by Will Darling and the costumes by K.D. Schill were all in drab grey tones eliciting the dismal nature of life as portrayed in the novel. The pre-show music set the tone; it was very 1950’s music from thriller movies.
Although this production was postponed by the pandemic, it couldn’t be more topical, with Putin’s censorship and his manipulation of language to deny his actions in Ukraine. And then there is Trump’s denial of reality and history, along with Cancel Culture’s outing anybody who thinks with nuance and does not get on the band wagon of screeching in convenient rigid concepts.
I heartily recommend this show. With everything that is happening in the world, it is very heartening to see and hear the mechanism of totalitarianism exposed.
1984 by George Orwell, adapted by Michael Gene Sullivan, 18th and Union. 1406-18th Ave. Seattle, WA 98122, ( Central District Corner of 18th and Union) Thurs, Fri, Sat 7:30, Sun matinee 3:00pm. Opens March 10 til March 26
Bus #2 from downtown, plenty of off street parking.
N.B. the café next door has Thursday and Friday night special Pizza nights and nice looking macaroons. They also have Sunday brunches before the matinee.
Reservations: https://alexandrasmacarons.com