News

Hudson Theatre’s Adaptation of “1984” Brings Real Terror to the Stage

Published

7 years ago

June 25, 2017

It isn’t often in today’s Broadway landscape that audiences are known to faint or vomit mid-show, nor do we often hear stories of theatergoers being arrested for breaking into fights during or after a performance. Gone are the days when audiences would yell at actors because they were so consumed by the performance that they feared for a performer’s life. And yet, at the Hudson Theatre in New York, audiences have been witnessing these very events since previews began of a new adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984.

The production, starring Olivia Wilde, Reed Birney, and Tom Sturridge, has been shocking audiences since it opened in London, but American audiences have seemed especially prone to intense reactions to its graphic portrayals of torture as well as the play’s message of resistance to government misinformation. It’s a hot button topic in the United States at the moment and the source novel has seen a resurgence in popularity since Inauguration Day 2017.

With the current administration’s use of phrases like “alternative facts” and constant cries of “fake news”, it seems the perfect time for such an adaptation. The story centers around Winston Smith (Sturridge) who silently deals with the oppression in fictional Oceania where every move is examined under the watchful eye of their leader, Big Brother. Winston works in the Records department of the Ministry of Truth where his job involves distorting history to fit the government’s message. In the course of time, Winston meets a woman named Julia (Wilde) with whom he falls in love. Smith begins keeping a diary, an offense punishable by death, and his non-conformity becomes his ultimate downfall.

Photo Credit: Julieta Cervantes

While most audiences might know the the novel, it’s one thing to read a scene and quite another to have it performed only a few feet from them. Aside from the vomiting and fainting, the actors have reported audience members yelling at them including one who shouted at Birney to stop during a particularly violent scene. Birney, still in character, shouted back. In other instances, they have shouted their approval or disdain of scenes in the play and some have even been known to call out for actors to “Resist!”

By opening night, directors Duncan Macmillan and Robert Icke had imposed an age restriction on the production. No one under age 13 is allowed to attend the show. The directors also encourages audience members who cannot handle the gratuitous torture scenes to exit the theater.

“You can stay and watch or you can leave — that’s a perfectly fine reaction to watching someone be tortured,” Icke told The Hollywood Reporter. “But if this show is the most upsetting part of anyone’s day, they’re not reading the news headlines. Things are much worse than a piece of theater getting under your skin a little bit.”

Icke has a point. The place of art has always been to stir its audience, to draw upon their emotions and make them question their reality. 1984 is a perfect example for this time and place and its terror is real because it so closely mirrors some of our current situation. Regardless, it is certainly a production for the books.

For more information about the production, including videos, pictures and more, check out their official website!

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

16 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

18 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

20 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.