Yahoo News Broadway's 1984 is so intense it could make you faint
Broadway's 1984 is not for the faint hearted or the weak of stomach – audience members have reportedly been fainting, vomiting and even arrested during the production's previews.
The play, starring Olivia Wilde and Tom Sturridge, is adapted from George Orwell's classic dystopian novel that gave rise to our favourite domestic, critical thought-suppressing totalitarian leader: Big Brother.
Directed by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan, the production features special effects such as strobe lighting, sudden blackouts and jackhammer sounds, along with violent torture scenes from the book's plot.
During New York previews of its London transfer, members of the audience have collapsed, been sick and even arrested for screaming at the actors and each other (via The Hollywood Reporter).
The intense interrogation scenes have been described by a The New York Times critic as being "graphic enough to verge on torture porn", and an age restriction has recently been implemented.
So far, Wilde has broken her tailbone, dislocated her rib and split open her lip, while co-star Sturridge has broken his nose during the previews.
Busted my lip open on stage last night. Broke Tom's nose a few nights before. This play is NUTS. 🔥☠️😵. #1984onBroadway #revisedtruth
- olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) June 2, 2017
"I'm not surprised [about the reactions], since this experience is unique, bold and immersive," the actress told THR. "It allows you to empathise in a visceral way, and that means making the audience physically and emotionally uncomfortable."
Director Macmillan continued: "We're not trying to be willfully assaultive or exploitatively shock people, but there's nothing here or in the disturbing novel that isn't happening right now, somewhere around the world. People are being detained without trial, tortured and executed.
"We can sanitise that and make people feel comforted, or we can simply present it without commentary and allow it to speak for itself."
Icke added: "You can stay and watch or you can leave – that's a perfectly fine reaction to watching someone be tortured. But if this show is the most upsetting part of anyone's day, they're not reading the news headlines. Things are much worse than a piece of theatre getting under your skin a little bit."
Security guards have been positioned in New York's Hudson Theatre for the duration of the production's run until October 8.
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