Mellania

Ruby Moon - Lighting and scene transitions
//Mr Doyle - So how many lights were there on the stage? Mellania - oww…// // It would have been the smart thing to do, right? But did I count the lights?…No. oh well, we'll survive :)//

//*there’s a couple of girls who suggested that there was some kind of light behind the glass panels on the doors. I thought it was just the reflection from the streetlight (lamp)…so please if you would clarify that and add it in…that would be greatly appreciated!// **//:)//**
 * Very simple lighting was used in this production.
 * The actors would go behind ‘the doors’ to change their costumes and come out as different characters.
 * Simple light allowed for the whole stage to be clearly seen. There was a lamp //(see image)// that together with the other props added to a ‘homey’ atmosphere.
 * In the scene transition between the prologue and scene one, the stage was lit by only the lamp which now acted as the ‘street’ light. It shone mostly on the Ruby mannequin and took the focus off the actors while they went behind the doors to change their costumes.
 * So basically in the scenes, there would be simple ‘normal’ light and also the lamp. //(to establish the fact that it is inside the house… I think)//
 * In the scene transitions, the only light would be from the lamp //(street light)// and it would bring focus on the Ruby mannequin. However, at the end of scene 7 //(the one that begins with Sylvie skipping a rope and singing)// the streetlight shone but the ruby mannequin wasn’t in sight. This reinforces the fact that Ruby is missing and that is the main focus of the play.
 * There was a red spotlight on Veronica’s while she sang. The director said it reflected Veronica’s sensual personality. //(but to me this made Veronica stand out more than all the other characters as she was given special lighting. Maybe it’s just me but that’s how I saw it.)//
 * Music and sound also assisted during the scene transitions. For example - the doorbell ringing, it showed a change in scene. //(see notes on sound)//

// OnStage Performances!!! //

//**__Monologue: Iphigenia in Orem__**// Daniel Downing performed this piece extremely well and was very believable as a character. Throughout his performancee, he was sitting and had limited movements. He had a stiff body posture which showed his suffering. His hands were shaking and expressed his sorrow and regret. He used small space of the stage and this brought focus on him and his dialogue. He was very emotional and I could hear it in his voice and through his body langauge. Pauses (while he had a sip of water) were used to create moment & tension and to allow the audience to process what he was saying and sympathyse with him. There was simple lighting and no non-diegetic sounds. The briefcase helped to show his character as a businessman.

I enjoyed this performance but about halfway through it, i found myself drifting off. I think it was because he maintained that high emotion from earlier on and I was just bored of it. He didn't have much contrast in his voice or emotion, he was sitting throughout and with not much movement. This was effective to a certain point but I could not focus on him throughout. Nonetheless, it was still a really good performance.

//__**Group: Luxury**__// The "Luxury" gp was one of the many performances that captured my attention as an audience member throughout. Using a wide range of the elements of drama (e.g light, symbols & movements), the dramatic meaning of the play was conveyed successfully. "Luxury" was about 5 strangers who have a significant item each that provide clues to the true meaning of their lives. I found myself captivated from the very beginning because of the use of torchlights in the dark. That lighting, together with the 'weird' sounds and movements really set a heavy and 'frightening' atmosphere, emphasising the characters' fear of the situation they were in. I was actually scared for them, which just shows how engaging, for me, it was. The costume and setting was really simple with only neccessary props - a CD, teddy bear, 40 cents, wedding dress, diary and a box. This enabled the focus to be only on the characters and why the items were significant to them. While one character was telling their story, the others would act out that story in a very synchronised manner. The rhythm of their movements created tension. The piece also contained humourous material, especially the irony of repeating the statement they used as one of their scene transitions, "stop repeating the question." I thoroughly enjoyed this performance!