The globe theater production was minimal. There was not a real elaborate backdrop or changes in scenery so I think that forced the actors to really push there ability to create the setting. I really liked the drum as an auditory cue for the court scene; the drums were very solemn and commanding setting the tone for the court. They used costume to primarily show social class but Rosalind’s transformation into Ganymede she was wearing attire identical to Orlando, which foreshadowed their future encounters. Touchstone notably did not change his costume which signifies that because he is thought of as nothing more than a fool he doesn’t have to pretend to be anyone else. The wrestling scene was interesting I thought, because when they ran all over the place and went through the audience it looked a little silly and not so violent. The acting definitely made the play come alive, their expressions and voices made the dialogue much richer and much funnier. Jacques was one of my favorite characters because they exaggerated his misery so much. Orlando who exaggerated his frustration was confusing, he is a very likeable character in the written play but it the live play he yelled so much he just seemed annoying and hot headed. I didn’t think that was well done. They brought the audience into it and that seemed to raise the comedy. More laughter occurred when they pointed at specific people in the audience like the women or the school boy. It’s difficult to say exactly why this is funny, because it’s ironic that were just watching and then suddenly were put on a pedestal. It’s kind of like an improbable twist, except most people can expect to have some audience involved stuff at a play. Its just that no one knows when its coming and it always seems to happen when were paying the most attention. Stand up comedians often point at people in the audience to create laughter. It could be that were laughing at the startling of others who are being pointed at.
Do you think Shakespeare/Directors involve the audience for any other reason than to make the audience laugh?
ReplyDeleteIn response to Adrienne
ReplyDeleteA good question. i think it is also to bring get the audience to look at themselves and relate themselves to the play more. for example in the globe theatre Jacques pointed at the school boy during the all the worlds a stage speech, which was very important so it helps cue the audience tune in. it also highlights the irony of the play, the actors are in a play comparing life to a play and rupturing the barrier between audience and the performance by pointing out people but also this makes them aware of that "fourth wall." i think alot of the play tries to acknowledge the fact that we're all human beings and our gender and social class sometimes distract us from the fact that we all simply have "our exits and entrances." jacques speech conveys this clearly and i think the uniting of audience of and performer enhances this feeling of togetherness from shared human expierience.
Yeah, I think Shakespeare uses the audience as part of the play. What's interesting is that this cannot be shown in the written play and only in the performance of the play. It really helps give an example of the significance of context like we talked in ToK, which can change the meaning of a word. Why do you think Shakespeare uses love to expose the limitations of gender and social class?
ReplyDeletei think love is universal regardless of class and gender yet its still light hearted enough that it can be used for a comedy. love is irrational much of the time and attraction doesnt play by social rules all the time, in the play people just find themselves atracted to people of different class or even in pheobe's case of the same gender. attraction opens our minds to possibliities that our culture wouldnt allow us to consider, which puts us in a position to question our culture. i dont hink shakespeare says love conquers all social barriers in as you like it, but he says it drives us to consider the possibilities.
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