Ideas for Act 1 Scene 8

In groups, we were given a scene to break down and start devising ideas for. This was the first time in the rehearsal process that we were able to really put forward our ideas and have them developed and improved by others in my group. I think putting our ideas into the play will make the process more personal and more creative as everyone will have unique ways of seeing the play and by using all the input we can make a well made play that has been built by every member of the cast.

In this scene, Daphne is showing Mau the planets. We would have them sitting on the edge of the stage looking up to the balcony on which the planets would be projected. The lights would be turned off so the only light would be a spotlight on Daphne and Mau and the light coming from the projection. This would make the audience feel involved and the scene would feel more meaningful to the audience. However we took into consideration that we may not be able to project, so we came up with two other options that may work, producing the same effect as the projection. The first, to have a sheet dropped from the balcony with the planets on it, the second, to have models of the planets on strings and have people dangle from the balcony. To create the effect of the stars, we could have electric candles along the balcony, as they are easy to set up, take away and pose no hazard.

Our second idea was how we were going to create the tree tops of the island, something that will look effective when trying to create the scene of a tropical island. We were going to have green umbrellas held by some of the cast up on the balcony and in the aisle behind the audience at different levels. This would also be a good way to keep Milton on stage and moving as he can pop up in between the tree tops. This will keep the scene active and alive. The good thing about this idea is that an umbrella would be something found in an abandoned building.

Like the umbrellas, piping or cardboard would be something found in a derelict building. Therefore materials like these would be something that we could use as props. For example in this scene we need a telescope and a piece of pipe or cardboard tube would be a perfect substitute for a telescope.

In terms of staging, to give the audience a sense of perspective, when Ataba arrives on the boat she would enter from the back door so the audience can see the journey.