Preparation 2: Deception, Recorders and Sunlight

Concept:
The theme that was to revolve the concept was deception. After further analysis our scene compared to the play we also discovered the play incorporated the theme of corruption as well. The play revolves around the lesson of consequences to sinful actions, and in this case stealing. This concept allowed us to envision what the costumes would look like. What sort of characteristics or what they might look like started to become more apparent.
The central metaphor surrounds the idea of the audience looking into a window where the world is darker, bleaker and criminal before the birth of Christ, which eventually turns around.

Aesthetic Influences:
  • Biblical Paintings: Dull colours, bleak backgrounds.
  • Nativity Scenes: Manger, crib, a shack or hut with straw on the ground, robed characters.
  • Lord Of The Rings: Robes, difference between Light and Dark. Corrupted world.
Set & Sound
Originally for sound Kelly was thinking using sound effects such as a sheep noise and continuous music playing in the background. Those ideas were dropped later and she chose to use 
Telemann - fantasie nr. 3 (Brügge) : 


Our first set design was created by Paula however many changes occurred during the production of the play. Our vision then transformed into one similar to the lighting pictures, then finally something entirely different for the final product. 
 Costumes:
The following pictures are some sketches that Kailey had created for the three characters.














Lighting: 
Lighting was given to me because the group thought I did a fairly good job with the previous lighting work I had done for our first design presentation. Initially I was very impressed with some of the ideas given by Group 3. One very interesting addition to their planned set was a thatched roof and light was to seep through it. It seemed like a great idea because it would be on the top of Mak`s cottage and showed a status difference between characters. Mak may have been portrayed as poor and that may justify his actions. However, stealing is still wrong so the main lesson would not be lost here. 
This is the picture of the blinds in my room that are twisted and turned. The blinds provide a similar effect to a thatched roof allowing rays of light to enter the room. This of course was not to be the main light source but just a added tint of light to the set.
Keeping in mind that our scene takes place in the morning we also want very bright light on the set. This was to symbolize sun light, so if possible using a yellow tint outside of Mak`s cottage.
These sketches were drawn with ML 135 in mind. You can see there are two areas of light coming from different directions but the blocking of our scene was decided to be mostly inside the cottage.  This made me consider another light because it was necessary to be used to light the cottage.
To help focus on the tension of the play it was required that the other lights turn off when tension is at its boiling point (when the shepherds admit they suspect Mak of stealing the sheep). The tension was very important to us, we really wanted the audience to feel it but at the same time the play is a farce so there had to be a balance with the seriousness of the play. 

Lighting is a technical part of the play but at the same time add an aesthetic element. Of course we want to see the actors on stage however with certain ways of lighting we can change the emotions. I was also considering the lights increasing in a certain spot with other lights fading so the audience can fell the hour glass time run out. Many changes were made to lighting once the stage and set were changed drastically and the availability of light sources was know different. (This is explained in more detail in the Performance section)

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