Staging Prometheus Bound
Unfortunately, I think my ideas for staging Prometheus Bound are very similar to everyone else’s. I think that a play that was originally done with very minimal set, like in the Greek era, should be performed today in a similar way. The story is complex enough without ever-changing sets.
I really like the idea of taking the prologue and staging it like the actors talking are in a classroom or talking about class – I think that this would help engage college students or young adults who may not know a lot about Greek myths. I think that the stage should be dark, expect for a large spotlight on the students at the front of the stage. They are sitting in chairs with desks attached to them, much like what we have in many of the buildings at Austin College.
I think that the way I see the play being done is the type of approach I would expect if it was being done in a college setting – the actors aren’t professionals and neither are the set builders. I would have one large boulder with low ledge for Prometheus to sit/kneel. The rest of the action would take place on the actual stage, which is only a little lower than the ledge of the boulder.
I think that each character would be designated a color that would be displayed by projection behind the boulder – the Daughters of Ocean would be blues and greens, Io the cow-girl would be browns, blacks, and reds. Any action with Violence and Power would have very dim and minimal lighting. The stage would remain mostly dark when the Daughters, Io, or the messenger comes, but the boulder and it’s immediate surrounding would be well lit.
I don’t think Prometheus Bound needs an elaborate set. I think that there needs to be more focus on costumes, lights, and sounds.
posted by Anonymous @ 4:51 PM
5 Comments:
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I totally agree that Prometheus Bound does not need an elaborate set. I think this play should be done with as little stage design as possible with more of a focus on the costumes, make-up, lighting, etc. I think that you came up with a good, unique idea to have the prologue done more college style- I think that would be good to connect to a group like our class and would make it a lot more real for college students to relate to. I think it is important that this play should be done with a very bare set and focus more on the characters and the actions rather than the scenery.
I think the college setting is a very unique idea, and i agree that it would definitely get people to pay attention because it won't bore them or confuse them. They'll want to listen and pay attention because it will make them feel like equals. I also think its funny that a lot of us have the same ideas as to how we would stage the show. Many of us have a simple boulder and nothing else. Great minds think alike!
Even though you did have the same idea of the minimalistic feel I think that your approach was a bit different. I like that you focused more on the costumes and lighting because as a tech theatre person I also feel that sometimes, in the right situation, they are more important than the actual set. I wish you had elaborated a bit more on the actual movement of the actors and what type of theatre setting it would be produced in. Like if we did it here at AC would you produce it in Ida Green or down in the Arena? Choices like that can really affect the feel of a show and I think that is essential for a director to consider. Would your actors completely respect the 4th wall concept or would you allow them to break that barrier and interact more with the audience? For a Greek play I think that involving the audience could be very rewarding for both the actors and the audience. Overall, well stated mediation, maybe just a little more about how you would actually stage the performance.
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