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MOST POPULAR LINKS... FRONT PAGE... MONTHLY DRINKS NIGHT
George Orwell's 1984 School Disco
Verdict: Sharp funny new 1984
Edinburgh 03 - The Lift at The Pleasance
The Lift is just that, a modern lift standing by itself in the garden of the courtyard at The Pleasance, Edinburgh. There are doors at each end, one for the audience, one for the cast. Tonight, there's an audience of 11, pressed against its inner walls, with the performance in the centre. And no, it doesn't feel claustrophobic.
George Orwell's 1984 School Disco is an exceptionally smart piece of comedy drama writing from Stephen Keyworth. Readers of George Orwell's 1948 novel 1984 will spot all the clever allusions in this 25 minute version, neatly transposed to the school-yard.
School's the one time when the supervision and restriction of our lives by authority is most visible - and makes a taut analogy to Orwell's story. For those who haven't read the book, School Disco stands alone as a well-written drama.
And well-performed. Handsome Gareth Kane, in school uniform and satchel, is a puzzled and convincing Winston Smith, trying to undo the wrong his character did in the book. Pretty Ruth Bratt is impish schoolgirl Julia, injecting the part with the mixture of determination, guile and innocence of the novel's character. Jonathan Hansler is George Orwell, and all the darker characters of the novel including Big Brother - he exudes authority and a superb menace.
In 1984, Winston Smith and Julia form a forbidden personal and sexual relationship. Winston betrays Julia under torture in Room 101, where one's worst fears (in his case rats) are used to break subversives. Finally he joins the other betrayers at the Chestnut Tree Café - 'Under the spreading chestnut tree, I sold you, and you sold me'. Written in 1948, it set out Orwell's pessimism for the future, most of which has, some would say, come true.
Now Winston Smith looks back from the present to 1984. The Lift's a time machine. With help from the audience, and the use of some magic floor-markings, he zips back to schoolgirl Julia. This time, he's determined not to let her down.
Julia's interested in Winston, but might just work in the Ministry again, as in the book. She's ready for anarchy - and intimacy. Will Winston commit? Evil English master Mr Orwell's determined to damn them both to the novel's fate. Can free will and love finally triumph?
Credits Cast (alpha order): Ruth Bratt (Julia). Jonathan Hansler (George Orwell). Gareth Kane (Winston Smith). Writer & Director - Stephen Keyworth. Company - Sleeping Giant. Venue - The Lift 5065. The Lift PR - Wendy Richmond. The Lift Producer - Tally Parr.
They're also appearing in: Ruth Bratt is in The Service Elevator at 3 pm (The Lift). Jonathan Hansler is in Dog Well Done (C Venues); I Can't Believe It's Not Godard (The Lift); The Reverend Dicktate & Jonny Hansler's Double Bill Platypus. Gareth Kane is in This Is Soap (C Venues). Stephen Keyworth also directs Dog Well Done (C Venues) and This Is Soap (C Venues)
END
John Park
reviewed Thursday 14 August / Edinburgh / The Lift
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2010
