LMHS to present "Animal Farm"

Aware that Lancaster Mennonite High School (LMHS) students had presented "The House at Pooh Corner," a children's story, in the fall of 2022, the school's new director, Katelyn Coryell, was looking for a thought-provoking show for her directorial debut. "('Animal Farm') masquerades as a children's story when it's a really deep allegory," said Coryell. "I wanted to give (student actors) something different in regard to their theater education."

"Animal Farm," based on the book by George Orwell, will be staged in the High Fine Arts Center, 2176 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Nov. 2, 3, and 4, at 7 p.m., with an additional 3 p.m. show on Nov. 4.

"Animal Farm" is the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer with the goal of creating a new society where the animals can experience equality, freedom, and happiness. Unfortunately, one domineering pig influences his fellow pigs to take away the voice of the community leading to a dictatorship and a life quite the opposite of what the farm animals had envisioned.

"It's a great story," said Coryell. "I thought it was relatively poignant considering (current events) and the fact that it is an allegory for Stalinism." Coryell noted that a lot of the students will study the book in classes as part of the school's curriculum.

The 10-member cast features Sim Spurrier as Major and Boxer; Tessa Kennedy as Clover; Julia Fisher as Napoleon; Zoey Groff as Squealer; Kayden Beidler as Snowball and Goose; Noah Niehans as Benjamin the Donkey; Sofia Brubaker as Mollie and Hen; Brennan Kauffman as Moses and Minimus; Aaliyah Clark as Pigeon and Young Animal and Sheep; and Anya Friesen as Jones, Pilkington and Sheep.

Coryell said that as director she has been challenged by assigning the students the task of digging into the material. "Because it is an allegory, I am encouraging them to look into what's behind the words rather than just the words themselves - to figure out the intention and why they are saying what they're saying and what they're conveying to the audience," said Coryell. As an example, Coryell quoted a line from the play: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

Fisher, a senior, is enjoying taking part in the production, but she said the show is not what she expected. "It's interesting to think about and to compare the story we're telling to real life," she noted, adding, "I hope audiences will see what we're trying to convey beyond the story of the animals."

Friesen, who is also a senior, noted that in her role, she is struggling with taking on the character of an animal. "(It is a challenge) making your body appear to be an animal body without having ears and a tail," she pointed out.

Fellow senior Clark said that she hopes audiences will listen critically as she and others have worked hard to interpret the lines appropriately.

Coryell lauded the students' efforts, adding that audience members should expect a unique production. "The students are working really hard at character development and making some really intelligent and creative choices," she said. "Even people who have seen 'Animal Farm' will not have seen a production of 'Animal Farm' like this."

Tickets, which are necessary to attend, are available at http://www.lancastermennonite.org/events/lmh-fall-play-2023-animal-farm.