Though we all had a good laugh at Andy Serkis’ ill-judged animated take on Animal Farm this year, it did prove that George Orwell’s foreboding fable still has modern relevance. Here writer and performer Dov Citron and director Victoria Waddington offer a more faithful adaptation of the source material, though framed by a different narrator, as hinted by the title: Animal Farm: As Witnessed by Moses the Raven. Taking the reins in this solo show at Barons Court Theatre, Citron offers a commanding and compelling performance, though elements of the narrative sometimes feel a little uneven.
If you managed to skip reading Animal Farm at school, the plot, allegorising the ascent of Russian dictator Stalin, goes as follows. The animals of Manor Farm are inspired by the revolutionary ideas of the esteemed boar Old Major, who dreams of a better life for beasts than farmyard labour. After Old Major’s death, however, the revolution is left in the hands of warring porcine acolytes: thoughtful Snowball and brutish Napoleon. Though the animals succeed in driving out their human overlords, slowly their egalitarian principles are eroded by the increasingly authoritarian rule of the power-hungry and paranoid Napoleon.
Animal Farm features a not insignificant cast of characters, and as sole performer Citron takes on all of them. It’s a powerhouse performance. He flips seamlessly from one character to another, all of them distinct, and his booming, gravelly voice commands the audience’s attention. There’s an inventive use of crowdwork too, encouraging the audience to see themselves in the animals’ place.
The set from Terry ‘Tex’ Gibson also captures attention, significantly more elaborate than the sparse fare typical of small-scale productions. The Animal Farm rules are writ large on wooden planks, ever-changing according to Napoleon’s self-serving whims. Hay is strewn across the stage and propaganda posters line the walls of the auditorium. A scarecrow frowns down at us from a brick column. Paired with the natural features of the Barons Court Theatre, a cellar room with a black vaulted ceiling, it almost feels like a gothic horror.
Though it’s altogether imaginative and engaging, there are ways in which Animal Farm: As Witnessed by Moses the Raven feels slightly uneven. The pacing does not always feel quite right: some crucial passages are rapidly dispensed with, while others are given room to breathe.
The humour doesn’t always work, though the jokes are funny enough (of course, animal impressions will inevitably result in a certain amount of comedy). It’s more that the humour doesn’t always sit well alongside the darker themes of the show; campy caricatures are an odd bedfellow for Orwell’s sombre morality tale.
Citron mentioned a hope for Animal Farm: As Witnessed by Moses the Raven to tour schools, and it’s easy to believe this would work well; it’s an engaging adaptation that effectively draws out the pointed lessons in Orwell’s text. Though the show might benefit from further refinement of the pacing and tone, thanks to its strong central performance it is nonetheless highly watchable.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
