Winston Smith hates his job. He works in the Ministry of Information rewriting history to serve the interests of the powerful. Winston’s soul is stirring with rebellion and his heart alive with love. Welcome to a world of no privacy, where electronic screens create paranoia, divisiveness and hatred for the ‘other’. Here, the state manufactures consent for perpetual war, truth is manipulated, and love itself is an act of rebellion.
Directed by Tim Robbins and adapted by Michael Gene Sullivan, this acclaimed, wildly successful production of George Orwell’s classic returns to The Actors’ Gang Theater after touring throughout the world!
This play is quite a challenge, and under the judicious direction of Tim Robbins and performed by an able cast, it is something very unusual and thought provoking at the same time.
Based on the iconic novel by George Orwell, "1984" is the story of Winston Smith, who has come to the attention of the state of Oceania, the authoritarian state. Initially written in 1949, meaning that it was projecting 35 years into the future at that time, it is uncanny, that, 35 years later, it is being presented yet once again, and, terrifyingly, it is probably more relevant than ever before. With the brutal soul-searching, diary-exposing help of four Party Members of "The Ministry of Truth," and a maiming stun gun, Winston is forced to confess his Thoughtcrimes before an unseen questioner, and the audience (surrounding the square stage on all four sides; it's almost as if they are secretly witnesses and jury) is up close and personal witnessing the torture and depredation being dealt to Mr. Smith.
As O’Brien, Robbins is chilling as he smugly and heartlessly strips Winston of his last shred of dignity and hope. In this cathartic confrontation, the production finally achieves the visceral impact it strives for.
Dedicated actors, the influence of style that smarts of Grotowski and Chaikin, quantum leap from Steven Kent and The Company Theatre allow deep character and text exploration at once bringing a chilling reality to life: allowing technique to shine without shame.
This is not a fun show. The world around us today is literally on fire; questionable leadership in the USA finds us on a slippery slope, possibly circling the drain as a nation, though we are not completely the nation of Oceana ... yet.. The reminder that corrupt forces are not the stuff of fiction is what Robbins and The Actors' Gang bring to life and for those who care to see raw theatre done with perfection, supporting this prescient work should be a high priority.
Tim Robbins delivers a chilling performance, particularly as his O’Brien is so businesslike and rational. Earlier, when Winston and Julia swear allegiance to the resistance movement, it feels the same as swearing allegiance to the authoritarian government, which is interesting and terrifying. They are ready to kill for their cause, and as we’ve been identifying with these characters, we can’t help but question our own capabilities for murder, even for a cause we might believe to be just. O’Brien raises just that point later, questioning Winston’s supposed moral superiority, and thus calling into question the moral superiority of those in the audience. And that is partly why attending a performance of this production is a powerful and intense and ultimately a very personal experience.
The Gang has returned to this story time and again since an initial production in 2006 and has toured the world with it. One sad truth of Orwell’s novel is that, somewhere in the world, some part of it will always feel uncomfortably real.
Throughout the physical work in the show is intricate, specific and strong and it was an honor to be able to sit with this company and watch them ride this emotional roller coaster that makes love actually seem as dangerous as Big Brother thinks it is. This is strong work that gives us a lot to think about, and more than a few things to be fearful of.
This play is quite a challenge, and under the judicious direction of Tim Robbins and performed by an able cast, it is something very unusual and thought provoking at the same time.
Based on the iconic novel by George Orwell, "1984" is the story of Winston Smith, who has come to the attention of the state of Oceania, the authoritarian state. Initially written in 1949, meaning that it was projecting 35 years into the future at that time, it is uncanny, that, 35 years later, it is being presented yet once again, and, terrifyingly, it is probably more relevant than ever before. With the brutal soul-searching, diary-exposing help of four Party Members of "The Ministry of Truth," and a maiming stun gun, Winston is forced to confess his Thoughtcrimes before an unseen questioner, and the audience (surrounding the square stage on all four sides; it's almost as if they are secretly witnesses and jury) is up close and personal witnessing the torture and depredation being dealt to Mr. Smith.
As O’Brien, Robbins is chilling as he smugly and heartlessly strips Winston of his last shred of dignity and hope. In this cathartic confrontation, the production finally achieves the visceral impact it strives for.
Dedicated actors, the influence of style that smarts of Grotowski and Chaikin, quantum leap from Steven Kent and The Company Theatre allow deep character and text exploration at once bringing a chilling reality to life: allowing technique to shine without shame.
This is not a fun show. The world around us today is literally on fire; questionable leadership in the USA finds us on a slippery slope, possibly circling the drain as a nation, though we are not completely the nation of Oceana ... yet.. The reminder that corrupt forces are not the stuff of fiction is what Robbins and The Actors' Gang bring to life and for those who care to see raw theatre done with perfection, supporting this prescient work should be a high priority.
Tim Robbins delivers a chilling performance, particularly as his O’Brien is so businesslike and rational. Earlier, when Winston and Julia swear allegiance to the resistance movement, it feels the same as swearing allegiance to the authoritarian government, which is interesting and terrifying. They are ready to kill for their cause, and as we’ve been identifying with these characters, we can’t help but question our own capabilities for murder, even for a cause we might believe to be just. O’Brien raises just that point later, questioning Winston’s supposed moral superiority, and thus calling into question the moral superiority of those in the audience. And that is partly why attending a performance of this production is a powerful and intense and ultimately a very personal experience.
The Gang has returned to this story time and again since an initial production in 2006 and has toured the world with it. One sad truth of Orwell’s novel is that, somewhere in the world, some part of it will always feel uncomfortably real.
Throughout the physical work in the show is intricate, specific and strong and it was an honor to be able to sit with this company and watch them ride this emotional roller coaster that makes love actually seem as dangerous as Big Brother thinks it is. This is strong work that gives us a lot to think about, and more than a few things to be fearful of.
