Today's Herald-Dispatch has a great story by Derek Halsey on the Paramount Players production of 1984 that runs tonight and tomorrow in Ashland.
You can read the story right here. (The photos, including the one above, are by Larry Butcher.)
Here's an excerpt:
--------------
The year was 1949 and author George Orwell decided to write a fictional novel based on the evil possibilities of the then-burgeoning modern era. In the narrative, when it comes to humans and power, specifically the potential for abuse of power by overbearing governments and more, modern technology can play a part.
Orwell predicted in his "1984" novel the possibilities concerning governments and regimes that have a totalitarian bent, and the themes of the book still ring true 70 years later. Orwell's story describes what can happen when the worst traits of man rise up to dominate subservient citizens with the use of never-ending war, constant spying by an oppressive government using TV and other technological tools, and the constant propaganda used to control people in a dystopian form of the world.
The book was so successful that phrases found within it - like "Big Brother" and "thought police" - are still used to this day. Ultimately, the book explores the notion that if humans are involved, something can and will go wrong, and that absolute power is capable of corrupting humans in an absolute way.
The Paramount Players bring "1984" to life on stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 2-3, at the Paramount Arts Center, 1300 Winchester Ave., Ashland.
Tickets are $20 and $15 for students. Tickets will be $2 higher if purchased the day of show, and your final ticket purchase will include a $1 per-ticket historic theater restoration fee. Tickets are available online at www.paramountartscenter.com or by visiting or calling the box office at 606-324-0007.
No comments:
Post a Comment