On Wednesday
25th September last I attended a feisty performance of “Tom and
Vera” at the Samuel Beckett Theatre which is on the campus of Trinity College
Dublin. The production was written and directed by Joe Lawlor and Christine
Molloy, Set Designed by Dominique Brennan, Costume Design by Caroline
Harrington, Lighting Design by Stephen Dodd, Hair and Make-up Design by Beth
Young.
The action is set in a suburban woodland clearing, possibly in a remote
wooded area of a public park. The collaborative engagement of the performers,
director, lighting and audience with the space makes for an individual immersive
experience of the performance. Unfortunately the immersive experience was
punctured intermittently by noise and voices coming from an adjacent rehearsal
or performance space.
Dominique
Brennan presents the performance space as an isolated grassy clearing in woodland. The floor
area was defined by a very realistically dressed grassy island accommodating deciduous
trees, shrubs, a clump of Cyclamen, tufts of weeds, tall grass, twigs,
branches, leaves, a stuffed Fox (stage right) and small brown bird possibly a
Robin (down front near centre). While the trees were on taught safety lines suspended
from the grid, they appeared to grow convincingly from the woodland floor and
did not sway or wobble unconvincingly at any time even as the characters
brushed their way through them in the woodland.
All this was ensconced in three walls of black drapes which assisted in
confining attention on the performers and supported the immersive experience. Dominique Brennan’s scenographic interpretation and
staged presentation was visually satisfying, effective and economical.
Caroline
Harrington Costume Design and
Make-up were effective in giving the characters a credible appearance/sense of being
a suburban, middle class, middle aged couple.
As the drama unfolds the encroaching mental and physical deterioration
of the characters was convincingly supported by Costume and Make-up designs
attention to costume and make-up changes.
The Lighting Design was subtle and sensitive in conveying not only the
time of day, weather but added to dramatic moments. I would question the necessity
for the on stage “light reflectors”, perhaps they were necessary to light some
of the down stage close intimate moments!
Overall a contrastingly comfortable setting in which this edgy, unsettling
drama unfolds.
The
programme was minimal; Programmes that provide useful content such as the
Director’s view on the play and/or comments and sketches by the designers
giving insight into some of the thought process behind the concept development
are to be encouraged.
Such
input from the Director and the Designers is of immense value to students of Design
for Stage and Screen, Performance, Design for Performance and when provided is
to be welcomed.
Joe Lawlor: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2614266/
Christine
Molloy: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2613934/
Dominique
Brennan: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4914790/resume?ref_=nm_ov_res
Caroline
Harrington: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Caroline-Harrington-Costume-Wardrobe/163594030389310
Stephen Dodd: no link found
Beth Young http://bethyoungmakeup.com/
Samuel
Beckett Theatre http://www.tcd.ie/beckett-theatre/
Desperate
Optimists www.desperateoptimists.com
See also: www.dublintheatrefestival.com
No comments:
Post a Comment