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Theatre Staging Review

On 10/11/09 I saw a production of Pirandello's, 6 Characters in Search of an Author, in the New Theatre, Cardiff. The play is about a family who are looking for an author to document their lives. The key theme is reality and the play explores the notion that whilst a character is somebody, an actor is nobody. 6 Characters in Search of an Author was performed on a proscenium arch stage and a separate section was created towards the back by the use of a gauze. The staging was initially realistic, however as the idea of reality became distorted in the narrative, so too did the set become less naturalistic.
In Act One, the stage was set out like a bland office, with the prominent colour being white. The only light came from five television screens around the stage to begin with. There was a large projection on the back wall in addition to the screens. A fish tank was placed in the corner of the office, where chairs and plants created a working environment, or a 'slice of life'. The audience were brought to laughter straight away, when we were led to believe that a woman was crying with empathy, however she in fact had a problem with her contact lenses. In spite of this, the comedic tone did not last throughout the dark, disturbing play.
Pirandello has said that film was the form of artistic expression that can 'best give us the vision of thought' and that this art could render dream, hallucination, madness and the doubling of personality better than the theatre. In the mid 1920s, he worked on the possibilities of making 6 Characters in Search of an Author into a film, though it never came into reality. The director, Rupert Goold's interpretation differs from the original production, which was set in the 19th century, as opposed to the 21st. Goold's direction of the play came closer to Pirandello's own desire to present his work through the medium of film, due to the extensive use of multimedia, projection and screens. Goold presented innovative ideas to update the 6 Characters in Search of an Author, such as the six characters interrupting the making of a documentary instead of the rehearsal of a show. This may have made the play appear more relatable to a modern audience, and links in with Pirandello's desire to incorporate film in his work.
In some ways, the actors were used as moving props. They were positioned around the stage in an architectural fashion with much space between them. Occasionally a rewind or fast forward sound effect would be used, the actors would quickly and robotically move about backwards or forwards depending on which way time was traveling. This again relates to modern television or film, which can be speed up or rewind. It was an unusual idea that worked extremely effectively. Goold seemed to be able to achieve the best of both worlds by incorporating theatre and film. Close ups of the actors were projected on screens, enabling the audience to observe facial expressions right from the back of the auditorium.
The lighting and use of sound also played key roles in updating the staging. When Mr. Pace entered, there was a buzzing sound effect and red lights flashed on and flickered, causing the audience to jump and shriek with shock. The colour red may serve as a symbol for passion and danger. After the sex scene, strobe lights were used before a blackout to end the first act. In the drowning of the youngest daughter, smoke was used as well as a golden light in the back room, which was seen through a glass panel. In the footage of the Producer, Jane, running backstage and through the woods, the lights flickered on and off erratically, this was accompanied by loud chanting and eerie music, which created a frightful mood and tense atmosphere. Before the sex scene between the Father and Stepdaughter there was a ringing bell sound effect and both characters began to sing. The Mother also started singing, dramatically when walking in on the scene, following this, the rest of the characters joined in like a chorus, accompanied by a piano in the background. When the Father and Daughter kill the director, opera music begins to play, which reflects 6 Characters in Search of an Author being compared to a symphony. There is a blackout at the end of the play and twinkling, eerie bells can be heard. The sound effects and lighting helped to create a dark, melancholic mood and atmosphere. The dramatic music, along with splashing blood allowed the audience to get a sense of the horror in the play. Some members of the audience let of gasps of shock in response to this.
The six characters were dressed all in black, excluding the youngest daughter, who wore a white dress to portray her innocence, however it had a black wrap around it. This may have been to foreshadow her dark fate. The Stepdaughter initially wore a black bowler hat, dress and a blazer with shoulder pads, which she later removed. She wore red lipstick, which served as a symbol for love as well as blood and peril. In the sex scenes, the Stepdaughter wore black underwear and stockings, though with her father she was dressed up like a rag doll in a mauve and white patterned dress with her hair in pigtails to portray childlike innocence. Lipstick was used to paint circles on her cheeks instead of blusher, this gave the impression of a young girl trying out make-up for the first time, and made the Stepdaughter look even more like a doll. The youngest son and mother both wore dark sunglasses, which covered their eyes, partially concealing their emotions to add to the mysterious factors in the play. The father and oldest son were both dressed in black suits, the son had white face paint on and dark eye make-up, which made him appear ghostly and threatening. It may be considered that the characters were dressed in dark colours as an ominous symbol, ready in funeral attire for when the youngest daughter drowns, as if mourning in advance. When murdering the director, the Stepdaughter and Father wore white lab coats, so that the blood, which splatters on them, stands out greatly. The Producer wore glasses, brown shoes, and a cardigan with her hair tied back, she also had a red coat. Red seems to be the most prominent colour amongst the neutral hues of the costumes, as the others in her team were in grey, black or brown jackets and jeans.
A scene with particularly effective staging was when the Producer agreed to film the character's story and a new room was set up in the centre stage. There was yellow patterned wallpaper with an image hanging up and a window with orange curtains. The props in the room included a sink, lamp, table, chairs, full-length mirror and a bed, along with black hats scattered about. Yellow and orange are fiery colours, which lead into the lighting turning red on Mr. Pace's abrupt entrance, terrifying the audience. The lighting in this scene was low and dominant on one side, which allowed large shadows to be created. This was reflected in the Father's lines to the Producer, when trying to convince her to let the characters play themselves, 'how can you offer anything more than a shadow of the originals?'
The audience reacted to fear, humour, horror and grief whilst watching 6 Characters in Search of an Author. The play was extremely well received, with laughter, cries of shock and screams of terror. It was thoroughly engaging and the staging ideas were original, contemporary and worked very effectively.

On 16/04/10 I saw Stephen Mallatratt's adaptation of the novel, The Woman In Black, by Susan Hill. The play was performed in the Fortune Theatre London, on a thrust stage. This style of stage was effective, as it seemed to bring the play further towards the audience, so we became more involved. The staging was symbolic, as opposed to being naturalistic. It was sparse, with minimal props. The economic set was appropriate, as it left a lot for the imagination to fill in, and clearly worked well, due to audience being captivated with the story. In an outdoor scene, part of the auditorium was used to serve as the marshes. This involved the audience further, due to the close proximities of the actors. Robin Herford has directed every West End cast since the play opened in 1989, therefore the staging is true to the original production.
Much like the costumes in 6 Characters in Search of an Author, the colours of clothing in The Woman In Black were dark, bland tones, such as grey and brown. Nevertheless, costumes and props played a vital role as indicators of when the characters changed role or entered a different location. The older Kipps wore a black hat, coat, tie, a white shirt and grey trousers with braces. When he changed into the character of Jerome, he put on a velvet top hat, wore glasses and a waistcoat. Props such as a pipe and glasses were also used as a swift role change. The director wore a grey waistcoat, trousers, a white shirt and had smart black shoes. To illustrate the characters going outside they would put on coats, scarves, hats and gloves. On the train journey, the older Kipps wore a long grey coat and had an umbrella. It was clear to the audience that the characters were on a train due to there moving of a box and chairs, as well as sound effects to set the scene. In the opening scene, sound effects were also used to give the impression of a ticking, chiming clock and chatter to make it seem like more people were present. Sound was of great importance in allowing the audience to believe that Kipps and the director were on a horse and cart ride, with rattling, wind blowing and footsteps being audible.
Similarly to 6 Characters in Search of an Author, a projection was used on the back wall of the stage. An image of the Eel Marsh House in black and white shone out on the screen amongst smoke used to give the effect of a fog. In the graveyard scene there was a sound effect of crows cawing and a cross was projected in the background. The sinister noise of a rocking chair was fundamental to the plot, as the younger Kipps spent ages searching for what made the sound, until he finally reached the secret nursery room behind the gauze, which was revealed dramatically by the lighting. A musical box was playing in the nursery, which gave an eerie, frightful atmosphere. The gauze was an effective use of staging due to its versatility with what could be presented behind it. The ability to change from one location to another was simplified with the gauze, and silhouettes behind it, gave us the illusion that a character was climbing the stairs. The combination of this along with the eerie soundtrack built up suspense for the audience. Dim lighting was used to enhance the tense atmosphere. The colours of lighting altered from green and grey to create a dismal mood in the marshes and red when the Woman in Black entered, in black robes. Like in, 6 Characters in Search of an Author, red was used as a symbol of danger and terror.
Few props were used in the play as a whole, these included, a chair, stool, silver metal buckets, a box and bundles of paper. These could be used economically and repositioned when the location altered. There was just the right amount of props and costumes to accurately relay the story. It is likely that the sound effects and projections would be the most significant changes in the production since it first came out, this updated the performance however it was by no means as hi-tech a production as 6 Characters in Search of an Author. Nevertheless, the audience was thoroughly drawn in to the story, breaths were held, screams were muffled and nervous laughter, loud. It was a terrifying, yet enjoyable experience for all.