Contextual Studies 4 (The Double Dealer)

Within this entry I shall be looking at both the staging of the play how we have done it, and also how it may have been done during the time period it was written, looking at set, lighting, music ect.

Our Set

Our set

 
During the 17th century theatre had separate audiences, and what I mean by this is that more lavish productions were not open to the public, these were called "Masques", which featured music, dancing, extravagant set designs, beautiful costumes and also special effects. These were only open to the nobility. Our performances in this era however, are open to all who wish to attend. For instance our play that we are performing is open to anyone. Back then the parts of Gods and Heroes were given to nobility also, where as now we all audition for parts that we would like and we are all given an equal chance. A man names Inigo Jones introduced the proscenium arch to theatre as well as moveable set. Our show may not be performed and a stage such as this, but we have incorporated the idea of movable set, for instance we have to places that the play is set in and the back slats rotate and switch between scenes. Restoration era was about being flamboyant, sets were carefully designed to fit this but were also simplistic, they would have one back drop that would have been painted to fit the play, as well as extra props and furniture of course. And we have tried to follow this idea, our set is very simplistic it is three slats that are on wheels so that it is easier to change the scenes around, the slats were painted with bright yellows and pinks, to fit with the flamboyancy of the era, and we have various bits of furniture such as a 17th century looking chair, a Chaise Lounge, a smoking table, with classes a small smoking tin, which changes to be a table in which a candle sits on, but these just fill the stage so it doesn't feel bare, whilst giving it the look of the period.