The Playboy of the Western World - Belated Sketch Notes

Finally, some notes to accompany the two sketches from this post.

Both sketches employ the use of a raked deck, and theatrical gauze or scrim for the house's walls so that the Irish country side - wild, passionate and luxurious - can be seen at various points of the play's action, depending on how it's lit. However, the second sketch suggests this better and is also better suited to this approach.

The first sketch has more interesting angles to it, but this conveys a twisty-ness and mendacious quality. Although the play does contain some lies, e.g. Christy's bravado over the supposed murder of his father, the director and I felt that this was not the main theme of the play. The open, straight forward, rough and simple lines of the second sketch are more suited to the open and plain (if vigorous) nature of the play.

In both sketches, the fire is given a very prominent position, emphasizing the theme of fire in the play. Christy Mahon is burned by a turf log from the fire shortly before coming into his own as a man, which suggests the fire is a transforming influence. The play also takes place in the fall, a season that blazes with color.

The heavy roof beams create the sense of confinement, when the scrim wall is lit from the front, and can be reduced to silhouettes when the scrim wall is lit from behind, which dramatically opens the space. We wanted the space to blossom when Christy arrives, the Playboy of the Western World, and shows the residents of Mayo of the wild passionate possibilities in their lives.

After meeting with the director today, some more sketches will follow.

Here's the show blurb from the University of Alabama:

The Playboy of the Western World
by J.M. Synge

Synge invites you to visit the coast of Ireland and experience rural life in the early 1900s. Christy Mahon, a stranger in town, has arrived at Flaherty’s Public House, proclaiming he has killed his father and fled his former life. For the locals, this story rings of excitement, adventure, and enlivens their otherwise dull and dreary world. They relish in Mahon’s story and even Mike Flaherty’s daughter, Pegeen, seems to have fallen for his adventurous charm. But when Mahon’s past catches up with him, will the locals still embrace his heroism or leave him stranded?

Playing at Gallaway Theatre at the University of Alabama

February 26 - March 2, 2008
Tuesday - Saturday at 7:30pm
Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm

You can buy tickets to the show online at:
http://www.as.ua.edu/theatre/calendar.html