1984

The vivid language and overwhelming feeling of paranoia of George Orwell's dystopian classic is masterfully adapted for the stage in Headlong's slick production, 1984.

The major difference here is that we see the story unfold through the eyes of a group of people who are studying the book in 2084, trying to deduce its true meaning and the relevance it may still hold for them — in their mind, the Big Brother regime has not been in effect for a few decades. It may be a gimmicky technique but it works — the scene flashes between 'the current day' and the events that transpired in 'thought criminal' Winston Smith's life in 1984 are incredibly effective at blurring time, fact and fiction.

While the ensemble of actors is strong — most notably Matthew Spencer as Smith and Tim Dutton as the conniving, nonchalantly cruel O'Brien — it's the stage set-up, sound and lighting that gives the show its edge. The drab set represents an antique shop, the Ministry Of Truth lunch room, a train carriage — until it's transformed into The Place Where There Is No Darkness, the scene change itself thrillingly incorporated into the story. The multimedia aspect — video is projected on a screen above the stage — provides yet another engaging storytelling device that puts us in Big Brother's position.

Among the militant and political themes, some wry, dark comedy slips through to balance it out. That touch of lightness provides some respite from the intensity, but does not distract us from the fact that what we're watching is scarily reflective of the government oppression in our own country and the rest of the world. 1984 — blending entertainment and sharp social/political commentary — is a gripping ride.