The stage adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan premiered in 2013, but only hit Broadway in 2017 after interest in the novel increased due to “alternative facts” and Donald Trump’s presidency. The production is described as an assault on the senses with extreme violence causing some viewers to faint, vomit, and shake. The torture scenes are vivid and visceral, staying true to the original script.
British playwrights and directors Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan premiered their stage adaptation of George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel 1984 in 2013, and the production has been successfully broadcast to British and international audiences. However, the play, which is said to be faithful to the original script, didn’t hit Broadway until June 2017. After Donald Trump took office in the United States and the concept of “alternative facts” came to light, interest in 1984 and the type of “thought crime” described in the book skyrocketed. The 1984 Broadway production has been described as an assault on the senses, with flashing strobe lights, a thunderous jackhammer, and lots of blood. Some viewers have had extreme reactions: fainting, vomiting and shaking were all generated by the unrelenting violence of the game.
An intense night at the theater:
In Orwell’s dystopian classic, the protagonist Winston Smith is brutally tortured for resisting the totalitarian regime led by Big Brother. While some adaptations toned down the violence, the Hudson Theater production did not.
“The torture scenes are visceral, horrific and incredibly vivid,” wrote one critic.
In the wake of Trump’s election, the book topped Amazon’s bestseller list, nearly 70 years after it was first published.
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