Hi! Who are you and who are you playing in 1984? My name is Andrew Mecready and I am playing O’Brien in 1984. O’Brien is a member of the Inner Party of Oceania, a very powerful figure in the Party hierarchy. He is extremely intelligent; he can be quite congenial, but he can also be ruthless with those he deals with. The character of Winston suspects that O’Brien shares his hatred of the Party and of Big Brother, and gradually develops a closer relationship with him.
What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I have been acting on stage for years: My first role was as Sir Joseph Porter in my Grade 6 production of HMS Pinafore. My first Walterdale show was in 1986, playing Slender in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Since then I’ve done numerous performances here. Some of my favourites include playing Polonius in Hamlet, Duke Felmet in Wyrd Sisters, and Renfield in Dracula.
What brought you out for the show? I auditioned for 1984 because I hadn’t done any theatre in a while, and I was intrigued about what a stage production of 1984 would be like. I haven’t been disappointed; Monica, our director, has made some very bold choices for the characters and for the visual style of the play, and I think audiences will be very impressed with what we as a creative team have put together here.
Why do you think people should come see the show? Even though it was written 70 years ago, 1984 remains very relevant, perhaps even more so now. We live in world where some of the things George Orwell described in the book seem to have become a reality: electronic surveillance, despotic leaders using fear and intolerance to maintain power, and the use of social media to distort facts and spread misinformation are all real problems in our society. I hope that audiences who come to see this show will be able to draw parallels between Orwell’s world and our own. Plus, i want everyone to see how cool the show looks and sounds, not to mention all the kick-ass acting going on!
What’s your favourite dystopian movie or novel? My favourite dystopian novel (other than 1984) is Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. It’s a chilling look at a future America where books are banned (and burned). As with 1984, there are some parallels to be drawn with our current society, especially in regards to our increasing addiction to electronic media. My favourite dystopian film, however, is probably Brazil, which imagines future world that is part 1984 and part Monty Python–which makes sense given that it`s directed by Monty Python member Terry Gilliam. It`s both hilarious and horrific–sometimes both at once.
