Avis Judd gallops across the stage, her ponytail swinging as she lets out a joyful "Neighhhh."
John Shartzer puts his hands on his hips, elbows stuck out behind him, making them look like wings. His head moves like a pecking bird as he lets out a ravenlike croak.
Other actors wander the stage at Rogue Theatre, all transformed into animals with a twist of a head, a gesture, a sound.
A bowl of animal crackers — perhaps a sick joke, perhaps for added energy for the actors — sits on a chair near the stage.
This is how Rogue is preparing for its production of "Animal Farm," which opens next week.
"I have the actors walk around as though they were animals," said director Cynthia Meier, who co-founded Rogue with Joseph McGrath.
People are also reading…
"We've been watching lots of videos of pigs, and noticing how much they are focused on their snout."
The actors at various times play sheep, pigs, birds, humans and humans with a puppet.
"The clarity between the characters is the biggest challenge," said Meier.
The play, adapted by Andrew Periale, is based on George Orwell's 1945 dystopian novel.
"It's a retelling of Orwell's story," said Meier. "All the characters are the same, and so is the dialogue. It's story theater."
In "Animal Farm," the animals at Farmer Jones' place have a vision of a utopian society where they, not the humans, are in charge. They call it Animalism.
They revolt, run Jones off and live by the motto "Four legs good; two legs bad." The group also establishes the seven commandments, including no walking on two legs, no sleeping in beds, no drinking alcohol, and all animals are equal.
Naturally, those in charge become corrupted by their power, begin to sleep on mattresses, walk on two legs, drink and consider themselves superior.
"Orwell wrote it as a parallel to Stalinist communism," said Meier.
"But the deeper thread for me is, we must be careful about becoming what we overthrow. As a society, if we don't like the way the government is going, how do we not become what we took over?"
Who's who on 'Animal Farm'
• Napoleon — He's the leader of the rebellion and takes over as the pig in power. Force and intimidation are his close allies. Based on Joseph Stalin.
• Snowball — This is the Leon Trotsky character. Snowball is the pig who challenges Napoleon for power.
• Boxer — The horse is dimwitted but strong and loyal.
• Moses — A raven who objects to the loss of Sugarcandy Mountain. Before the revolution, this was thought to be where animals go to die. Post-revolution, it no longer exists.
• Molly — The mare loves human attention, getting all prettified with ribbons. She's having a bit of trouble with Animalism's concept.
• Clover — A bighearted mare who suspects the seven commandments aren't being followed by the pigs, but isn't positive because she can't quite remember them.
If you go
"Animal Farm"
• Presented by: The Rogue Theatre.
• Playwright: Andrew Periale, based on the George Orwell novel of the same name.
• Director: Cynthia Meier.
• When: Preview, 7:30 p.m. Thursday; opening is 7:30 p.m. next Friday. Regular performances will be 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 27.
• Where: The Rogue Theatre, 300 E. University Blvd., in the historic YWCA.
• Tickets: $24; opening-night performance is $50, and includes hors d'oeuvres (6 p.m.), music and a talk by playwright Andrew Periale (6:45 p.m.).
• Available at: 551-2053, or www.theroguetheatre.org
• Running time: About 90 minutes, with one intermission.
• Cast: Jill Baker, Avis Judd, Joseph McGrath, David Morden, John Shartzer, Daved Wilkins.
