Review: Passing on the Animal Farm Pelt!

Animal Farm by George Orwell – The Playground Theatre, London.

🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷 – Five porkers out of five.

IMAGES: NUX PHOTOGRAPHY

In full disclosure, I know the Director and adaptor of George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’, Guy Masterson. He’s presented four of my plays at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival over the years. He is the sole actor and producer of my version of Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ wowing the critics, appearing off-Broadway in New York, Europe and touring the UK every year. But, of course, the fact we’ve known each other for SO long, is perhaps the reason why Guy Masterson is passing on the Animal Farm Pelt to… well… a younger actor!

I’m not being ageist here. This is an adaptation of George Orwell’s classic tale that is full of movement and motion. It is hugely physically demanding. The actor is barefooted and boiler-suited, using minimal props and homemade sound effects to perfectly present Orwell’s farmyard tale of betrayed idealism and abuse of power. And although he still has a way to go to match the 20-year experience of the Maestro Masterson, young actor Sam Blythe makes a good fist – or should that be hoof! – of Orwell’s allegorical masterpiece.

Last year I was talking to the original Director Tony Boncza in the bar before the show in London. I asked if he’d cast anyone other than Guy Masterson in the part. “No”, he replied. “I can’t imagine anyone else but Guy doing this show now.”

This is perhaps why Guy has directed this show himself, using traits from Boncza and his own considerable award-winning directing and performing experience. And it’s already a hugely strong offering. Sam Blythe has almost nailed the physicality, even if at this point – his second-ever performance in front of an audience – he’s not completely nailed the script. But even the drys were ‘in character’. “Where am I?” He would ask the brilliant technician, who would give him the next line – and off he’d whoosh again!

It still contains the occasional contemporary additions to the mix which signpost how Orwell’s tale is still so relevant today. Trump, Thatcher, Cameron and others, make audio appearances. And two of the brutal bullying guard dogs are called ‘Elon’ and ‘Nigel’. I wonder where they got those names from?

“We are a Grandfather” is a misquote that many may not remember, but was a seminal moment in the reign of Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher – the first time she started using the Royal ‘we’ and prompting comments about how she saw herself. The dogs deciding there will be ”be no more debate,” remind us of how Boris Johnson prorogued parliament – effectively shutting it down when he couldn’t get his own way – and what seems to be happening across the pond at the moment. We have good old reliable Boxer… who accepts everything he’s told, like most of us do… and works himself to death for the good of all; then the sheep who mindlessly repeat the political rhetoric that suits the current Party Line. Comrade Squealer is a Special Advisor if ever I saw one. And of course, we have politics straight out of the Donald Trump and others, playbook. Blame Farmer Jones. It’s all HIS fault. Not ours.

I feel Blyth will become an experienced and seasoned campaigner. It’s funny, relevant and unmissable. Guy Masterson, Tony Boncza, George Orwell. And now Sam Blyth. A winning combination. Vote for them!

And, perhaps, Animal Farm is a tale we need to tell now more than ever.