“Farenheit 451” – Courtesy of Zach Rosing. Used with permission.
Based on works presented in past seasons, I can only surmise that Indiana Repertory Theatre chooses plays that cover topics ripped from the headlines. Its current offering, “Fahrenheit 451,” based on science-fiction writer Ray Bradbury’s novel of the same title, certainly suggests as much. I saw the Sunday matinee of the play, which runs through February 20 and clocks in at 2 hours with a 15-minute intermission. Due to the pandemic, my attendance marked the first time in two years I have seen an IRT production on the OneAmerica stage.
L-R Amire Addullah & Jennifer Johansen – Courtesy of Zach Rosing. Used with permission.
Bradbury’s dystopian novel, written as a cautionary tale and published in 1953, is not set in any particular year in the future. However, at a time when local school boards seek to ban books and the preoccupation with smart phones, social media and streaming television results in our disconnection from other humans, his story might as well be set in 2022.
Appealing to my rebellious side, I first read Bradbury’s novel and reveled in Françoise Truffaut’s 1966 film version as an impressionable college student as the Viet Nam War was raging and the counterculture, anti-establishment movement was in full bloom. Remembering the chilling effect Bradbury’s prescient work had on me as a young man, I was eager to see actor Tobias Andersen’s adaptation. Having immersed myself in the original, I knew the story, given current trends, would be wholly relevant. I was not mistaken.
To avoid even mild spoilers for those unfamiliar with the plot, here’s a brief synopsis. Guy Montag, the story’s protagonist, is a “fireman,” but not in the traditional sense. These “firemen” start fires rather than put them out. They burn books because they’re believed to be making people think too much and consequently, making them threats to society. At the same time, Montag is feeling dissatisfied with his life and connects with Clarisse, a high-school student and neighbor, who presents him with thought-provoking questions, one of which is about his state of happiness. The questions posed by the free-thinking teen help him realize he is indeed not only unhappy, but has also become soured on his marriage, burning books, and authority, in general. Montag’s awakening results in a series of precarious occurrences that radically change the course of his life and propel him toward a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment.
L-R Admir Abdullah & Janyce Caraballo – Courtesy of Zach Rosing. Used with permission.
Smartly directed by IRT associate artistic director Benjamin Hanna, the outstanding “Fahrenheit 451” ensemble of seasoned actors includes Amir Abdullah as Montag, Janyce Caraballo as Clarisse, Jennifer Johansen as Mildred, Tim Decker as Captain Beatty, and Henry Woronicz as Faber. Other than Abdullah, the remainder of the cast played multiple roles.
Making his IRT debut was Chicago-based actor Decker, who shined as the volatile Beatty. Playing the most educated, yet most dangerous character in the story for burning books to keep people ignorant, Decker imbued his role with a physical and emotional intensity that lit up the stage.
As always at IRT and reflecting a budget that allows for high-caliber production values, the show’s technical elements were first rate. The creative team, comprising scenic designer William Boles, costumer Izumi Inaba, lighting designer Michelle Habeck, sound designer Kevin O’Donnell, and projection designer Rasean Davonte Johnson, collaborated to devise an atmosphere and environment that successfully capture Bradbury’s futuristic vision.
For tickets and information about “Fahrenheit 451,” visit irtlive.com.
