2004 Miracle Yearbook

Independent Play geok5e 0-mod/le) Cedarville University's student theatreorganization,neXtage,presented a play based on George Orwell's novel 1984. Followingin thefootstepsoflast year's Spinning into Butter NeXtage's second year proved to be a success as students crammed into Alford Auditorium each night. 1984 presented an anti-utopian future, which was George Orwell's visionandwarningofwhatcouldhappen if a government were left unchecked. The play was set in a portion of the future world,called Oceania(formerly known as England). In Oceania, a small percentage of the population served the government (Party) while the rest of the people (Proles) lived apathetic lives of submission to this government. In the Ministry ofTruth Building, Winston Smith(Josh Cobb),a member of the Outer Party, contemplated if there were more to life than what the Party and its head figure,Big Brother, said there was. One day Winston had a strange encounter with a new worker in his office, Julia(Lauren McCotter). Julia,aseeminglyinnocentyounglady, soon confessed her love to Winston — an actforbidden in this society. As the two attempted to hide their feelingsinaworldunderconstantwatch bythegovernment,theylearnedquickly whocould betrusted and whocould not be trusted. In an attempt to have a "normal life," Winston and Julia relocated to a small apartment in the Prole section of Oceania, where they believedthey hadfinallyfound privacy and safety. Ironically, it was where they were discovered and separated forever. The government forced both of them to endure grueling torture in order to"re-educate"them to love Big Brother and embrace the Party. While 1984 made for an entertaining Cedarville evening, neXtage succeeded in making it much more — an uncomfortable vision of a terrible, yet possible future. 58 Harvest 1984 "It's my surprise. Look,I'm a woman. I have a dress, Winston...this is the only time I've ever felt like a woman. A real woman, and you are my man...my husband!" Julia exclaims. Winston raises his hands in allegiance to the govern- ment. (Top) Syme explains Newspealu."We don't invent words - we destroy them. We simply say: plus good Of double plus good. In the end, the whole notion of good and bad will be covered actually by one word."