Did you like the play?

It was a really cool play. They had, like... you know the dogs? When they growled, it actually sounded real, 'cause the people weren't saying it. And there was a recording, but it was backstage, and then the people had the teeth, those big dog's teeth....

Yeah, the dogs were cool. What else did you notice about the play?

At the beginning, the hen didn't have a costume, but then at the second part she had a costume. I couldn't tell which animal was which at the beginning, but then I realized they had those pictures of the kind of animal they were on them, and they all had different tails.

Was it a happy ending?

Not really, 'cause everyone was punching each other and fighting and they had a really bad leader, Napoleon. He wasn't really bad in the beginning, but he just wanted things his way, and none of the other animals could do anything--he just did everything. At the beginning, it was kind of like, they voted and stuff, but then at the end, it was kind of just what Napoleon did. He just decided everything, and he just used all the money to buy whiskey when he was supposed to be using it to buy food and stuff for all the other animals.

Do you know what the word allegory means?

No.

Allegory means when you're talking about one thing, but there's a secret meaning underneath. And so this play is famous because they're talking about animals, but underneath, there's a secret story. Can you guess what it is?

Animals being like humans? At the end, they did everything like humans.

Well, here's a hint: Animal Farm is Russia.

Russia?

That's right. Animal Farm is a story about the history of Russia. Do you know what a revolution is?

I've heard the word, but not exactly.

A revolution is where a bunch of people--or, in this case, animals--decide to change things, decide to change their world, and have better ideals. Do you know what ideals are?

Not really.

Well, it sounds like "ideas," right?

Right.

So, ideals are just ideas about a better way to live; about how to make the world a better place. Remember "animalism" in the play?

Yeah.

What was it about?

Animalism was about the animals trying to help each other. And they had laws about them trying not to be like humans--like, animals shouldn't sleep in bed, 'cause they didn't trust the humans, and humans sleep in beds.

What were some others?

Animals shouldn't drink alcohol. What else? All animals are equal.

What happened to that one at the end?

"All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." Which is Napoleon and the pigs saying they're better than the poor animals. They kept changing the sayings. Like when they said, "Four feet good, two feet bad..." and then, at the end, they said, "Four feet good, and two feet are better."

Why do you think they kept changing it?

'Cause they were beginning to trust humans more, and they were trusting them and thinking that they were better than animals, 'cause--you know at the end, when the pigs didn't have feet, and they put on those gloves.... They were drinking whiskey and acting just like humans.

Who were the main characters?

Napoleon. And for a little while Snowball was a main character, but then she kind of went away, 'cause Napoleon started disagreeing with all her good ideas. He just started disagreeing so he could be the leader.

Who would you vote for?

Snowball.

Why?

'Cause she doesn't get drunk; she's nicer... she doesn't try to take over.

Which animal would you be like?

The horse. The one with the curly hair. She was nice; she was always thinking of other ways to help.

Do you know people who are like Snowball or Napoleon?

No.

Do you know anyone like any of the other animals on the farm?

Well, my mom is a bit like that big horse, Boxer. She is always trying to get chores done before anything else. Like homework first: "You can't eat first, homework first.... I'm sorry, there's no time for food before you leave."

Omigod, so she's like, totally the boss.

Yeah.

Don't tell her we said that.