Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 is rarely performed though the stage adaptation from the novel was written by science-fiction legend Ray Bradbury himself. With permission and encouragement from Bradbury, this production was able to make some key changes that made this classic work of science fiction appropriate to a whole new generation.  By changing the villainous “fire chief” into a female role and making the other “firemen and firewomen” into a chorus, many of Bradbury’s famous speeches and warnings about the future became heightened.

The futuristic story of a society that forbids the written word in all forms, Fahrenheit 451 was published in 1953 and has since become Bradbury’s most popular and widely read work of fiction. The book was brought to life in 1967 by François Truffaut in the classic starring Oskar Werner, Julie Christie and Cyril Cusack.

The Fahrenheit 451 world created by Bradbury is a sterile one where all houses are fireproof and everyone is forbidden to own books or writings of any kind. The "Firemen" burn books instead of putting out fires. The title of the play comes from the lead character Montag who says in one scene, "Fahrenheit four five one is the temperature at which book paper catches fire and starts to burn."

“I'm an avid Bradbury fan,” said BCC Theater Director Katherine Bacon, “and the students are too since his work holds the interest of each new generation.  We designed the production in the abstract turning BCC’s Little Theater into a utilitarian, futuristic space. A large white disc in the center of the stage was encircled in black and highlighted by many brightly painted red ladders which were used as furniture, stairs, firehouse décor, etc. All other furniture was designed and built to be versatile and light-weight so that it could be carried in by the actors, set in place by them, and struck immediately afterward. Many of Bradbury’s visions in the 1950s were considered “futuristic” but have since come to life. A production of this kind allowed today’s students, who will be inventing the future, an opportunity to make the connections with the past.”  

In an effort to form a working partnership with Binghamton University’s theater department, and to consolidate the talents of the young and versatile actors from the local community, the production featured a BU freshman theater student in the leading role of Montag.