1984 – Written by George Orwell; Adapted for the stage by Robert Owens, Wilton E. Hall Jr., and William A. Miles; Directed by Burgess Clark; Boston Children’s Theatre’s New England Theatreworks’ production of 1984 runs through April 29 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center of the Arts, 527 Tremont St, Boston through April 29.
As anyone who saw Boston Children’s Theatre’s powerful production of The Diary of Anne Frank (I did) or last year’s controversial production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (I did not), knows that BCT ain’t just for kids. So it should come as little surprise that the company is taking on this challenging work, given its relevance to what is going on politically in our own country and around the globe. Nearly 70 years after the book’s publication, 1984 still paints a chilling portrait of what may come to be, and director Burgess Clark and his young cast do a credible job of creating that sense of impending doom that re-emerges with each fresh news cycle.
This production is led by strong performances by its three leads, and backed up with earnest performances by the supporting cast. Brendan Callahan is convincing as the bookish Winston, and as his rebel girlfriend Julia, Alexandra Upton is equally compelling. The pair have a genuine chemistry as the doomed lovers, and are especially good when bickering as she begins to feel he is more committed to the cause than to her needs. The statuesque Keith Robinson nearly steals the show as O’Brien, winning Winston and Julia’s confidence with his supportive and affable manner before morphing into the embodiment of human evil as he turns on them, and coerces them into betraying one another. His shocking blond hair is also a nice costuming touch, as it not-so-subtly evokes the embodiment of the “master race” ideal. The production is also bolstered by the return of Zehava Younger in the role Big Brother who appears on screen to lead the populace in their “two-minute hate”, as “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength” flashes on the screens below.
1984 is suggested for audiences over the age of 14, and is a great way to introduce teens to theater while alsp providing solid entertainment for the adults. For tickets and info, go to: http://bostonchildrenstheatre.org/
