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Review: Year of the Rat

A man sits at a desk, frantically typing away, before breaking off for a hoarse coughing fit. As we soon discover, this is George Orwell, composing what will be 1984, living alone on a remote Scottish island while slowly dying of TB. This grim existence is soon spiced up by the arrival of Sonia Brownwell, literary femme fatale, whom Orwell has invited here in a last-ditch attempt at love, followed swiftly by the lecherous editor Cyril Connelly, bent on keeping Sonia and Orwell apart for Orwell’s own good.

 

Orwell’s (Nick Davies) and Sonia’s (Georgia Waters) first meeting is beautifully awkward, with Orwell’s social reticence juxtaposed with Sonia’s flirtatious and assured tone, behind which an appealing vulnerability lurks. This is brought out clearly in her scene with the sleazy and self-confident Cyril (Andrew McCormack), keen along with all the other men on the London literary scene to objectify and seduce her, a rare and resented powerful woman, labelled frigid when she rejects their lechery. Their relationship in itself is sure to be a poignant affair given the tragic circumstances, but the subtle characterisation is what makes it particularly appealing to watch.

 

Meanwhile, Orwell is visited by hallucinations of the animals he created for Animal Farm, including old friend Boxer the horse, whose innocent concern for his beloved author George is extremely touching. Their conversation is tense, with Boxer sensing that something is wrong, slightly jealous at sharing George with Sonia, and fearful of events which an invented horse simply cannot comprehend or help with. His sweet naiveté is juxtaposed with Orwell’s pained grasp of harsh reality, such as when he contemplates with confusion the fact that Orwell killed him off, trying to salvage the situation by linking them as sufferers- ‘My lungs got me too, didn’t they George?’ ‘No Boxer, the pigs got you. You were faithful too long.’ Orwell’s patience but clear unease around Boxer makes for extremely moving viewing.

 

A well-acted production of an interesting play about interesting people. The visitations from animals add a surreal element to an otherwise painfully real situation, and the interior and exterior worlds of Orwell complement each other to make a very powerful whole. This is certainly one to make time for in 6th week.

 

Thursday to Saturday of 6th week, Corpus Christi Auditorium, 7.30pm, £5/£6

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