Animal Farm-A Two Act Play Performed by the Yoh Theatre Players #WoodstockVT #VT
March 13, 2015
Woodstock, VT
Yoh Theatre Players present Animal Farm-A Fairy Tale and a
Musical in two acts. After two months of rehearsals, the house lights dim and
the stage lights go up on a farm in England .
The original book was written by George Orwell 70 years ago
and is still relevant today. Animal Farm is an allegorical and dystopian
novel published in England
on 17 August 1945. According to Orwell, the book reflects events leading up to
the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalin
era in the Soviet Union . The
original title was Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, though the subtitle was
dropped by U.S.
publishers for its 1946 publication and subsequently all but one of the
translations during Orwell's lifetime omitted it.
Old Major, the old boar on the Manor Farm, summons the
animals on the farm together for a meeting, during which he refers to humans as
parasites and teaches the animals a revolutionary song called "Beasts
of England." When Major dies, two young
pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, assume command and consider it a
duty to prepare for the Rebellion. The animals revolt and drive the drunken and
irresponsible farmer Mr. Jones from the farm, renaming it
"Animal Farm".
They adopt Seven Commandments of Animalism, the most
important of which is, "All animals are equal."
Snowball teaches the animals to read and write, while
Napoleon educates young puppies on the principles of Animalism. Food is
plentiful, and the farm runs smoothly. The pigs elevate themselves to positions
of leadership and set aside special food items, for their personal health. Napoleon
and Snowball struggle for control of the farm and animals.
When Snowball announces his plans to build a windmill,
Napoleon has his dogs chase Snowball away and subsequently declares himself
leader of Animal Farm. Napoleon enacts changes, replacing meetings with a
committee of pigs who will run the farm. Through a young pig
named Squealer, Napoleon claims credit for the windmill idea. The animals
work harder with the promise of easier lives with the windmill.
Years pass, and the pigs start to resemble humans, as they
walk upright, carry whips, and wear clothes. The Seven Commandments are
abridged to a single phrase: "All animals are equal, but some animals are
more equal than others".
After seeing this group of talented young actors perform
this play, one should really go back and re-read the novel; I know I will.
Animal Farm
Performed by The Yoh Theatre Players
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