Michael Gene Sullivan Fleshes Out Orwell’s “Big Brother”

by Erin Weitzman and Barry David Horwitz

George Orwell’s notorious sci-fi novel 1984 has haunted the modern world since 1949. Michael Gene Sullivan, Resident Playwright at the San Francisco Mime Troupe, brings Orwell’s prophetic story to life in his fiery adaptation, with six powerful actors assembled in a gruesome torture chamber.

Sullivan’s tightly focused adaptation begins with a godlike voice (dramatic Warren David Keith) emanating from three television screens above Aurora’s three-sided stage. Winston Smith (fervent Joseph Patrick O’Malley) is being tortured for his “thought crimes” against an overwhelming “Big Brother.”

O’Malley is attached to elaborate electric wires that shock him into “confessing.” The four grim torturers in dark suits read from Winston’s diary. They obey Big Brother and act out their victim’s story. Winston, dressed in rags, cries out from the terrible torture bed center stage. O’Malley, resembling Christ on the cross, embodies heroic resistance and our deepest fears. Revolution meets revenge in his besieged body.

The four blood-thirsty Party Members intone his incriminating story, under directions from Big Brother’s intimidating voice. As First Party Member, Daniel Duque-Estrada clearly takes pleasure in reading aloud the dangerous diary, enthusiastically reliving each sin. Duque turns the past into the present.

As Second Party Member, Megan Soledad plays Julia, bringing her forbidden love with Winston to riveting sexual life. The torturers argue whether it’s “right” to so enjoy retelling Winston’s confession. They grapple, while “correcting” the past.

Playwright Sullivan keeps the core of Orwell’s novel—retaining the contradictions of Big Brother’s Doublespeak: “War Is Peace,” “Freedom Is Slavery.” Fascism is alive and well as the past is revised to fit present demands: “He who controls the past controls the present.” Doublespeak is alive and well in America today.

Winston interjects to defend himself from the hate spewed by Third Party Member (hypnotic Brady Morales-Woolery). Sullivan’s torturers include David Bryant who plays many roles with perfect menace and sharp focus. Director Barbara Damashek has evoked thrilling performances all round.

In Act Two, “1984” shifts into high gear, activating latent emotions with the entrance of Warren David Keith as the mastermind O’Brian, the voice behind the screens. As O’Brien, Keith uses his powerful baritone to express cruelty, authority, and persistence, rocketing the drama to new heights.

In the intriguing and threatening torture chamber, the cast of six gives us chills and horrors. As O’Brien, Keith forces Winston to make the ultimate sacrifice of his inner thoughts. O’Brien cruelly trains Winston to believe whatever Big Brother wants him to believe: “We are fighting Eurasia, not East Asia,” “War is Peace,” “2 + 2 = 5”!

Sullivan shines moments of humor into the struggling, trapped characters. Complex characters like befuddled Winston and his neighbor Parsons (persuasive Bryant) offer flashes of humor. And we recognize ourselves in their fears and trepidation, too. Ridiculous discussions about “simplifying” the English language (to replace words like “excellent” with “plus good”) make us shake our heads and laugh.

Sullivan’s stage adaptation of Orwell gives us a rare opportunity to see our political world today for what it really is. “1984” illuminates our present political crisis. Don’t miss it!

 

“1984” by George Orwell, adapted by Michael Gene Sullivan, directed by Barbara Damashek, at Aurora Theatre, Berkeley. Info: auroratheatre.org – to Dec 10, 2023.

Cast: David Bryant, Daniel Duque-Estrada, Warren David Keith, Brady Morales-Woolery, Joseph Patrick O’Malley, and Megan Soledad.

Banner photo: Warren David Keith & Joseph Patrick O’Malley. Photos by Kevin Berne