Animal Farm

Life On Hold’s production of Animal Farm is more serious than one normally expects for pub theatre. This production, staged upstairs at the Victoria Park Hotel, is a well-polished, thoughtful Staged Reading or Reader’s Theatre version of George Orwell’s political allegory.

Simply staged, the production employs seven actors on seven stools, who mostly read, but leave their position for (memorised) important speeches and key moments. With actors dressed in black and mostly still, the focus is on vocals and facial expression and the very few props used become particularly significant. There is some excellent use of AV (expertly designed by Rosalyn Anderson and Sarah Christiner), judicious and poignant use of sound (designed by Daniel Toomath and Sarah Christiner) and lighting, by John Spurling, is used to effect.

Petrine Harley gives us an Orwellian voice as the narrator, in a well measured performance. Phillip Lord, in perhaps my favourite performance of his to date, is a frankly unnerving Napoleon, and strong as Major - his seat is placed ever so slightly apart from the others - telling and clever. Josh McGee wields power with expertise as Squealer. AJ Loe balances the passion of Snowball and the painful observations of donkey Benjamin beautifully.  Meredith Hunter is lovely, and brings us some welcome lighter moments as sweet but silly horse Mollie and intelligent goat Muriel.

Rosalyn Anderson wins our sympathy as Clover, while our hearts ache for Paul Cook’s tragically loyal Boxer.

A must see for anyone studying George Orwell’s novel, this intelligent production is a good choice for people who enjoy a good story and who don’t need bells and whistles.

Kimberley Shaw