Animals hog the stage
By Juliet SchoenStaff Writer
It’s hard to resist the animals in Theatricum Botanicum’s new production, “Animal Farm,” based on the book by George Orwell. This is not exactly “The Lion King,” but the costumes are extremely clever and the actors inside manage to convey the required characteristics. The pigs snort convincingly, the horses strut proudly and the cows hoof it with their significant udders. Even the little chickens cackle with ardor.
The story, of course, is a parable and tells what happens when the farm animals give their owner the boot (or hoof) and decide to run things democratically. Alas, two of the pigs turn greedy and decide to take over.
Democracy turns into autocracy and there is the lesson for us all. Although Orwell was using the Russian Revolution as his inspiration, many in the audience related the take-over in terms of what is happening in Washington today. Whether this is acceptable or not, the animals are certainly more fun than our politicos.
This production sticks closely, we assume, to the Sir Peter Hall adaptation for the 1984 National Theater in London. It is touted as a musical but Rodgers and Hammerstein it’s not. A highlight, if you can call it that, is the singing of “Four legs good, two legs bad.” (Of course, this gives the chickens a problem until it is decided that the wings can be counted as legs.)
Much credit must go to Ellen Geer, the director, who lightened the message and stressed the fun. Terry Hunter was responsible for the whimsical costumes. But what makes the production work is the insight of the actors. They capture the nuances of their characters, not only as animals, but also as what would be their human counterparts. Napoleon, the pig, played by Jim LeFebvre, bullies his way to power, after discrediting and ousting poor Snowball, the altruistic pig who espouses “animalism.” Melora Marshall is wonderful in the role, eschewing any temptation to ham it up. The third member of the pig triumvirate is Aaron Hendry as Squealer.
Willow Geer-Alsop is adorable as the feminine horse that abandons the fold for ribbons and bows and Tom Allard, a pompous horse, gives a whinnying performance. Also excellent are Ernestine Phillips, Melissa Thatcher, Jeff Wiesen, Justin Doran, Steven Matt, Jessica Kay Temple, Dylan Booth Vigus, Ari Wishkoff, Paul Schrier II and Gerald Rivers who populate the play as goats, mules, cats, chickens, cows, sheep and whatever.
Contributing the narration are young and talented readers Kellen McDaniel and Jessamyn Upundi Sheldon, alternating with Anna Elizabeth Press and Ian Durra.
We must not forget Thad Geer as the farmer who learns not to duke it out with animals. The lout! How sad that the animals ultimately follow the ways of humans and their Utopia turns to dust.