Evaluation of a Theatrical Performance - the Woman in Black
Evaluation of a Theatrical Performance.
Play: Women in Black.
Style: Gran Guignal.
Our drama assessment was to watch the play “Woman in Black” at the Fortune Theatre in London. The original 1950’s play starred Orlando Wells and Michael Mears as the two main and only characters and directed by Robin Hereford.
Set.
As the curtain raised and the performance began a minimalist set was revealed; stool, chair, basket and a coat-rack. Initially, the minimalist set predicted that the play would be slow-moving, however the lack stage furniture actually focused the audience even more on the storyline, as there were few distractions. This also allowed the actors to effectively include Drama Mediums such as multiple prop. The actors were so convincing in their use of the props, that one truly believed a wooden box was a horse and cart. The colours of the set were dull and gloomy; blacks, greys and browns – this delivered the effect of shadowing the stage and intensifying the atmosphere. The designer was probably using these colours to connote death, sadness and the melodramatic era of the Victorians, who mainly wore dreary coloured clothes. The mysteriousness behind the story was seeping through the dismal pieces of cloth hanging from the stage at extremities of the performance area – this certainly intensified the atmosphere upon the first appearance of the Woman in Black. As she first paced down the aisle, the dim lighting and atmosphere increased the mystery of a woman in a black cape slowly moving towards stage. Her hidden face made us feel unsafe and unsure . In a way, the small, old, shabby theatre chosen to hold the performance becomes part of the set. In my opinion, a larger modern theatre venue wouldn’t create the same claustrophobic atmosphere. Costume.
The costumes although simple, were effective. All characters wore Victorian formal clothes, suits and waistcoats, complimenting the set perfectly, the dark colours blending with the scenery –
Play: Women in Black.
Style: Gran Guignal.
Our drama assessment was to watch the play “Woman in Black” at the Fortune Theatre in London. The original 1950’s play starred Orlando Wells and Michael Mears as the two main and only characters and directed by Robin Hereford.
Set.
As the curtain raised and the performance began a minimalist set was revealed; stool, chair, basket and a coat-rack. Initially, the minimalist set predicted that the play would be slow-moving, however the lack stage furniture actually focused the audience even more on the storyline, as there were few distractions. This also allowed the actors to effectively include Drama Mediums such as multiple prop. The actors were so convincing in their use of the props, that one truly believed a wooden box was a horse and cart. The colours of the set were dull and gloomy; blacks, greys and browns – this delivered the effect of shadowing the stage and intensifying the atmosphere. The designer was probably using these colours to connote death, sadness and the melodramatic era of the Victorians, who mainly wore dreary coloured clothes. The mysteriousness behind the story was seeping through the dismal pieces of cloth hanging from the stage at extremities of the performance area – this certainly intensified the atmosphere upon the first appearance of the Woman in Black. As she first paced down the aisle, the dim lighting and atmosphere increased the mystery of a woman in a black cape slowly moving towards stage. Her hidden face made us feel unsafe and unsure . In a way, the small, old, shabby theatre chosen to hold the performance becomes part of the set. In my opinion, a larger modern theatre venue wouldn’t create the same claustrophobic atmosphere. Costume.
The costumes although simple, were effective. All characters wore Victorian formal clothes, suits and waistcoats, complimenting the set perfectly, the dark colours blending with the scenery –