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`all`s Well That Ends Well` Staging Question

A2 Essay on specific Shakespeare play. Achieved Grade A*.

Date : 02/11/2011

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Georgia

Uploaded by : Georgia
Uploaded on : 02/11/2011
Subject : Drama

Outline how you would stage "All`s Well That Ends Well" in the theatre justifying your choice and explaining how your design would contribute to the play`s meaning. In your answer you should refer to any production you have seen or discussed.

The Marianne Elliott production of "All`s Well That Ends Well" that I saw was performed at the National Theatre, in London. In her production she fused both the classical interpretation of Shakespeare with her own modern interpretation, including the use of the cyclorama and the profound use of set. Traditionally, "All`s Well That Ends Well", was performed in the Globe Theatre with a large, heavily involved audience where there was little set but a large importance on the costume of the characters. The Elizabethan acting style from the era was, heroic and exaggerated in order to have a dramatic stage presence to an audience in an open roofed theatre. For my own production of one of Shakespeare`s tragic comedies that was written between 1602 and 1605, I feel that, like Elliott did, bringing the modern and traditional elements to the stage is crucial so that the audience fully understand the meaning of the play but also so as to not lose the tradition of Shakespeare. I chose to stage the play in the round as I feel that the message that Shakespeare is presenting is heavily through the themes or trickery and deception. Therefore, with the audience watching from all angles it will heighten the moments of dramatic irony in the play such as the soliloquies where only the audience are left watching. For instance, at the end of act one scene one Helena reveals her plan to win Bertram, "my project may deceive me, but my intents are fixed, and will not leave me." This key line from the strong female character explains to the audience her clear desire for Bertram. With it being performed in the round, my aim is to make the audience feel that they are watching every aspect of what is taking place in front of them and so that they feel as if they are constantly aware of what is happening and the intentions of all the play`s characters. Having seen Elliott`s interpretation of such a dynamic play I was inspired by some of her uses of set, particularly the use of the cyclorama. The visual enhancement that this gave to the play was dramatic and added a new dimension to the play. With this inspiration, I feel that this is a clear way to show the audience where in the play they are, as Shakespeare gives no stage directions but only through speech do the audience know where the actors are, I would use the cyclorama to increase the audience`s awareness of where the acting is taking place. With the continual fast paced switching of locations some audience members may feel lost as they missed a minor line of which explain the change of location and therefore by looking up at the cyclorama they will immediately understand the change. I believe that in this play the message of the battle between the sexes is most prevalent. Shakespeare has created a strong band of women, who throughout the play are found to support one another to achieve. This moment is clearly seen by the audience when the widow invites Helena to stay with her, "I will bring you where you shall host...Already at my house." To emphasize the difference presented by Shakespeare for the audience, I would split the audience when they arrive so that men and women sit separately. This would immediately heighten their attention to the gender divide therefore increasing their awareness of this in the play. Many critics believe that rather than succumbing to society`s expectations of women, the female characters in the play make their own destiny and their own choices. This is an aspect of the play I would particularly focus upon mainly by involving the audience. Although, there are several other messages in the play that Shakespeare conveys, firstly the theme of status and class, which is first, acknowledged by Helena, "That I should love a bright particular star and think to wed it, he is so above me." This immediate portrayal of class shows Shakespeare`s desire for this to be recognised. To emphasize the variation in class, I would do this visually. For instance in the Marianna Elliott production I saw she used the red carpet and golden doors to portray the King`s status. I would too use this element of her production as I feel that it enhanced the overall production from a visual perspective. I would also emphasize class through costume. For instance I would have the Countess and the King in luxurious colours covered in diamonds and gold to convey their wealth and high social standing. Whereas for characters such as Helena, I would have her in almost rags of dull colours to portray her lower social standing creating a sharp contrast between the classes. Again this visual element would appear to be subtle but would portray the variation that Shakespeare writes about. Another theme to the play that Shakespeare portrays is that of old age. Age and death is constantly mentioned during the play with the play opening with two deaths, Helena`s father and the Countess` late husband, "I bury a second husband." This dark opening image must too be recognised and portrayed within my set design. To show this darkness, I will use lighting. For the initial scene of death and illness I will use dim artificial lighting so to show the darkness of what is taking place on stage. This will then create great contrast to when the illness from the King has passed as Helena cures him. To show this contrast through lighting I will use bright natural lighting when the King has been cured to represent life and rejuvenation in the King. To highlight the change of location between Florence and Paris which happens between scenes I will use lighting and sound effects. For instance I want to portray Paris as a dark and depressing location therefore I will use dim lighting with the glow from fires to create the image that it is a cold and dark location. Whereas, in Florence I will use bright lighting and the sounds of birds tweeting and the breeze to create the soft and calm atmosphere of Florence. Furthermore, I will use costume to portray the difference in location, for instance the King, when in Paris; will be in dark red velvet with large gold chains around his neck to portray both his high status but also the dark atmosphere of Paris. In comparison, the Countess in Florence, will be in a white silk with diamonds and light coloured silk incorporated within her dress to portray also her class but too the light floating atmosphere of calm Florence. With the variation of locations being portrayed through costume, lighting and sound this will result in no large set changes that take time and can slow down a production. Within my set, there is a revolving central section. This inspiration came from the production I saw of "Mother Courage" at The National Theatre. I particularly like the large scale space of the National Theatre and therefore would have my production performed there. In the Marianne Elliott production I saw of "All`s Well That Ends Well", she included the scene of the bed trick that is not found in the text, although it is mentioned. I would too include this scene as I feel that it made the performance more relevant to a modern audience and also added an aspect of humour and dramatic irony. With inspiration from the production of "Mother Courage" I saw the centre of the stage lowered at the beginning of the production. For the bed trick scene of which I would include in my production, when this takes place, I would have the centre of the stage lowered with the key characters lowered too. To emphasize what is taking place I would have sound affects and smoke rising from the hole in the centre of the stage. For the rest of the production I would have this centre piece raised so that when Helena performs her soliloquies such as at the end of Act One Scene One, she can speak from the raised platform. Whilst Helena speaks this soliloquy, I would have the raised platform turning slowly to show her thoughts developing and almost running through her mind as she speaks. This would add a new area of stage to the piece creating a level and therefore another visual aid for the audience. As I have previously discussed the costume through colours and fabrics, I feel that it is vital to obtain the traditional Elizabethan and Jacobean costume to continue the traditional element of the play. As aspects of my set are modern, such as the revolving and lowering centre stage piece and the cyclorama, I feel that to incorporate the traditional aspect this would be most appropriately done through the use of costume for the characters. I would particularly emphasize the importance of costume as was traditional for the era that the play was written in. However I would highlight aspects of characteristics through the use of costume, for example I would portray Helena as a strong woman but also slightly provocative, which can be seen with her bantering with Parolles in the first scene, "blown her up". To show this trait of Helena`s character in her dress, I will have a piece of red silk to show her deceitful and darker side to her character. Whereas, with the character of Parolles I will make his lies and deceit a lot more obvious with his clothes not fitting him correctly and having badges without medals on them highlighting his lies of his victories. Maintaining the traditional elements of Shakespeare such as the minimal set and traditional costume of the period but at the same time adding modern interpretations and my own performance staging and set will, I think, bring together the great message of Shakespeare whilst keeping the audience intrigued and understanding what is taking place in front of them on stage.

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