Animal Farm: It was no longer clear who was a pig and who was a human

By Maja Bajrić

The Animal Farm, as interpreted by the young Sarajevo acting ensemble at the Sartre Theatre, is, to say the least, something truly worth watching. However, subjectively, I would say it is simply excellent.

They spared no effort in their performance, and I am honestly surprised that there were no actual physical injuries due to the very realistic portrayal of conflict scenes. The passionate and convincing, heartfelt performance inevitably impresses the audience.

However, the most fascinating fact is that every actor knew every role by heart and was able to play any role in Animal Farm fluently and convincingly. And, let's be clear, there are many roles.

The play actually begins with the audience deciding who will play which role. This is achieved by each performer introducing themselves to the audience and explaining why they believe they would be ideal for that role, and the audience expresses their support or disapproval using bells given at the entrance. The volume of all these simultaneously ringing bells is measured with a decibel meter, and the loudest noise ensures the assignment of the role. The bells are miniature versions of cowbells, and the sound immediately immerses the audience in the atmosphere of the animal farm. The stage is authentic and excellent in its simplicity – the actors are in mud the entire time.

Through an interesting combination of serious, poignant, and comical performance, elements of musical theatre and sound and light support are interwoven, which certainly makes an interesting piece even more interesting.

A special bonus is that in several digressions, a parallel is drawn with the current political and social situation in our country. It is not entirely funny, and at times sad, that a play written in 1945 as a satirical critique of totalitarian communism fits so well into the description of this and our current system.

Hardworking and honest horses that are sold to the slaughterhouse before retirement and after their functionality ends, cute pinschers whose puppies, through systematic brainwashing, become beasts devoid of individuality and empathy, harmless chickens whose eggs are cashed in before they have even cooled in the nest, and a workforce devoid of any perspective and ambition, sheep, we must not forget... the lower class of society, whose uprising and struggle for a better life is just an illusion, and a reason for the mocking grunts of the upper class who mask their every exploitative and humiliating act with a guise of insolent and daring arrogance, which they know will have no consequences for their rank and comfort as long as the public believes that everything they do, they do voluntarily and in the name of a higher cause. However, all animals are equal. Only, some are more equal than others.