AMARETTO-old
August 29th, 2006, 05:26
Timely and fun, a musical adaptation of тАШAnimal FarmтАЩ holds its own
Along with his dystopian critique of totalitarianism, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Animal Farm is a work that, eventually, made George Orwell a household name. First published in 1945, the novel was not widely appreciated until the late 1950тАЩs. An allegorical rendering of the Russian revolution, the book uses a farm and its animals to portray the waning of Marxist ideals and the rise of the totalitarian state under Stalin in post-revolutionary Russia.
The story has been gracefully retold as a musical that is currently being performed by drama students from Chulalongkorn University, one of two plays they put on each year. Despite being told through a different, somewhat more playful, medium, Animal Farm has retained its pointed message on the exploitative potential of absolute power.
If you havenтАЩt read, seen or heard Animal Farm before, you may well still be able to guess that almost all the characters in the story are animals: pigs, hens, cows, horses, sheep, donkeys, a cat and dogs. Under the direction of three pigs: Napolean, Snowball and Squealer, each of whom has a personality indicative of the revolutionary leader he represents, the animals launch a revolution and succeed in expelling the farmer. After declaring all animals equal, the pigs begin to run the farm as a commune. Sadly, as per the storyтАЩs historical counterpart, power, wealth and the division of labor soon cause the farm to descend into tyranny.
тАЬThe story of Animal Farm really matches the situation here nowadays. It can present many issues that are relevant to usтАЭ, says the playтАЩs director, Bhanbhassa Thubtien, when asked why this story was chosen for this semester.
Despite its current relevance, this heavy-handed interpretation can make for some slow going at times. Still, its presentation here as a musical, along with some jokes which are snuck into the performance, effectively decreases the storyтАЩs moral tension and makes for an entertaining viewing experience.
A character of a child who reads from a book her grandfather just gave her is used to narrate the story. Each time the play is frozen, the next scene is set through an excerpt read from the novel. The performers are challenged and the audience entertained, much like they are the actual children.
It is clear that the drama students have spent a lot of time perfecting their animal representations, and their efforts have paid off. The performers indulge the audience with flourishes and flair that add greatly to the show. Having the actors approach and interact with the audience also has a wonderfully engaging effect. Though they are playing farm animals, these students could well be professional actors. The exceptional costumes and props also add to the overall high standard of this performance.
тАЬDesigning the costumes for this play was very difficult as most of the characters are animals. What I was most concerned with is the atmosphere and balance between animal and human. In designing, I picked the outstanding points of each animal but retained some bare skin to give a feeling of wildnessтАЭ, says costume designer Lalita Lawanyakul.
The music, both instrumental and vocal, fits very well with the show. The rhythms used, along with some very clever lyrics, season the play so effectively that a musical feels like a natural format in which to relay Animal Farm.
Director Bhanbhassa also gave her insight into the story: тАЬAnimal Farm reflects peopleтАЩs various natures. Every character is a variable in the society, and every animal on the farm is the cause of the problem. Some are ignorant, some are afraid and some do not know what is right or wrong. I believe that Napoleon (the dictator pig) achieves his goal not by himself, but with the help of every other animal. They let it happen.тАЭ
At three hours long with a 15-minute intermission, the show is quite a haul. But as a testament to its worth, it remains engaging throughout. Aside from how much fun it is, Animal Farm the musical will also stimulate your critical faculties when you are left to consider just how applicable some of its sentiments are to the situation in Thailand today.
Animal Farm
тАв Showing through September 3
тАв Wednesday to Friday at 6:30pm, Weekends at 2pm and 6:30pm
тАв Arts Theater, Arts Building 4, Chulalongkorn University
тАв Tickets are 200 baht each or 150 baht for students and groups of 15 or more
Along with his dystopian critique of totalitarianism, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Animal Farm is a work that, eventually, made George Orwell a household name. First published in 1945, the novel was not widely appreciated until the late 1950тАЩs. An allegorical rendering of the Russian revolution, the book uses a farm and its animals to portray the waning of Marxist ideals and the rise of the totalitarian state under Stalin in post-revolutionary Russia.
The story has been gracefully retold as a musical that is currently being performed by drama students from Chulalongkorn University, one of two plays they put on each year. Despite being told through a different, somewhat more playful, medium, Animal Farm has retained its pointed message on the exploitative potential of absolute power.
If you havenтАЩt read, seen or heard Animal Farm before, you may well still be able to guess that almost all the characters in the story are animals: pigs, hens, cows, horses, sheep, donkeys, a cat and dogs. Under the direction of three pigs: Napolean, Snowball and Squealer, each of whom has a personality indicative of the revolutionary leader he represents, the animals launch a revolution and succeed in expelling the farmer. After declaring all animals equal, the pigs begin to run the farm as a commune. Sadly, as per the storyтАЩs historical counterpart, power, wealth and the division of labor soon cause the farm to descend into tyranny.
тАЬThe story of Animal Farm really matches the situation here nowadays. It can present many issues that are relevant to usтАЭ, says the playтАЩs director, Bhanbhassa Thubtien, when asked why this story was chosen for this semester.
Despite its current relevance, this heavy-handed interpretation can make for some slow going at times. Still, its presentation here as a musical, along with some jokes which are snuck into the performance, effectively decreases the storyтАЩs moral tension and makes for an entertaining viewing experience.
A character of a child who reads from a book her grandfather just gave her is used to narrate the story. Each time the play is frozen, the next scene is set through an excerpt read from the novel. The performers are challenged and the audience entertained, much like they are the actual children.
It is clear that the drama students have spent a lot of time perfecting their animal representations, and their efforts have paid off. The performers indulge the audience with flourishes and flair that add greatly to the show. Having the actors approach and interact with the audience also has a wonderfully engaging effect. Though they are playing farm animals, these students could well be professional actors. The exceptional costumes and props also add to the overall high standard of this performance.
тАЬDesigning the costumes for this play was very difficult as most of the characters are animals. What I was most concerned with is the atmosphere and balance between animal and human. In designing, I picked the outstanding points of each animal but retained some bare skin to give a feeling of wildnessтАЭ, says costume designer Lalita Lawanyakul.
The music, both instrumental and vocal, fits very well with the show. The rhythms used, along with some very clever lyrics, season the play so effectively that a musical feels like a natural format in which to relay Animal Farm.
Director Bhanbhassa also gave her insight into the story: тАЬAnimal Farm reflects peopleтАЩs various natures. Every character is a variable in the society, and every animal on the farm is the cause of the problem. Some are ignorant, some are afraid and some do not know what is right or wrong. I believe that Napoleon (the dictator pig) achieves his goal not by himself, but with the help of every other animal. They let it happen.тАЭ
At three hours long with a 15-minute intermission, the show is quite a haul. But as a testament to its worth, it remains engaging throughout. Aside from how much fun it is, Animal Farm the musical will also stimulate your critical faculties when you are left to consider just how applicable some of its sentiments are to the situation in Thailand today.
Animal Farm
тАв Showing through September 3
тАв Wednesday to Friday at 6:30pm, Weekends at 2pm and 6:30pm
тАв Arts Theater, Arts Building 4, Chulalongkorn University
тАв Tickets are 200 baht each or 150 baht for students and groups of 15 or more