Unnerving, brilliant and bleakly funny
GEORGE ORWELL’S DYSTOPIAN CLASSIC CRACKLES WITH ENERGY IN THIS ELECTRIFYING HULL TRUCK PERFORMANCE
I am even seated to review Animal Farm, my heart is racing.
Wire animal heads dangle from the ceiling and menacing red lights shine down on a set that feels like it’s half prison, half slaughterhouse. Orwell’s classic is a satire, but it’s already clear this version at Hull Truck Theatre, adapted by Ian Woolridge and directed by Iqbal Khan, has elements of horror in it too.
Polly Lister, who plays
Old Major, delivers a rousing speech in the
First Act that sets a high bar for the whole performance. Followed by a powerful song - the animals’ own national anthem - it makes the hairs on your neck stand up.
Very briefly, as the animals sing in perfect harmony, the bleak set is uplifted with the simple addition of bird song and a few fragile beams of white light as they imagine the warmth of the sun and the possibility of life beyond their prison.
A charismatic Samater Ahmed is wonderful as Snowball, the idealistic and confident leader who has grand dreams of making a perfect world where every animal is equal. He also plays Benjamin, an important character in the book as the cynic whose role is a little diminished in this adaptation.
Having a gender-swapped Napoleon (the usurper after the revolution) was an interesting choice. When Orwell published Animal Farm in 1945, it was still many decades before a woman would be the Prime Minister.
But Ida Regan is beyond convincing in the role of Napoleon. Initially performing it as a snivelling Liz Truss type hiding behind her lackeys, her transformation into a brutal dictator barking out propaganda through a microphone is compelling and a little freaky. It is an incredible interpretation of Napoleon’s character and a fitting nod to the maxim: “Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Killian Macardle performing as Squealer backs her up as a henchman without a conscience. He is a perfect villain, delivering propaganda and double-speak like a natural.
And then there’s poor Boxer, the literal workhorse of the revolution, played by Sam Black. He bounds on the stage with such energy and strength you can immediately tell he will be completely faithful to the character, adding great emotional depth to the story.
What is wonderful about this performance of Animal Farm is that you never forget the characters are animals. Actors speak heart-wrenching lines only to add a random snort or a bleat, making the audience erupt in laughter.
There is one moment, right at the end, that does not work for me. The natural climax of the play is already reached - and very disturbing it is too - and then it goes on a little longer, as Napoleon shows off her evil work to a new two-legged chum who is unconvincing as a huge puppet made out of CCTV cameras.
But even this couldn’t diminish my overall enjoyment of this electrifying and highly original performance - I give it five stars. ■■Animal Farm is showing at Hull Truck until Saturday, April 13. Tickets start at £3 for those on income-related benefits, visit www. hulltruck.co.uk/whats-on/drama/animal-farm/