Explain how the set designer created a set or settings appropriate for the action of the play. Analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of the designs at 2 specific moments.
On the 23rd February 2016 at 2:30pm, I went and saw the Matthew Bourne production of 'The Red Shoes'. It was a contemporary dance piece with elements of ballet, based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson and the Powell and Pressburger 1941 film. The use of dance made it non-naturalistic, and the meta-theatre within the narrative resulted in a Brechtian style of performance. The use of set within this piece was particularly effective, and highlighted the director's intention, which was to demonstrate how desire and ambition can lead to tragedy.
One scene where set was used to particular effect was in the opening scene, where Vicky danced alternately with the Conductor and the Director. During this dance sequence, there was a thick, velvet red curtain in the centre of the stage hung from a pole, and this began to turn and spin as Vicky danced with one man then the other; this foreshadowed the dynamic of the play to come, as much of the play is concerned with Vicky's relationship with these two men. I found this effective as it clearly demonstrated the divide between the characters of the Conductor and the Director, and introduced some of the key themes of the production, including control and desire. As the scene progressed, the staging shifted and white stage lights appeared at the back right hand side of the stage, and, as the action suddenly shifted so their backs now faced the audience, it became apparent that they were performing to a crowd situated at the back of the stage. This shift in perspective introduced the notion of meta-theatre and reminded the audience that they were watching a play, causing them to question whether the scene they had just witnessed was real or improvised. As the director's intention highlights the tragedy within the play, this made me first anticipate the illusion that was to come, and was extremely effective, causing me to understand the nature of the production I was witnessing.
Another effective use of set design was during the 'Red Shoes' ballet piece. The meta-theatre here was demonstrated through a very non naturalistic style of staging, which contrasted with the naturalistic settings that had been occurring throughout the rest of the play; this highlighted to the audience that this play was not only going to be significant, but it ensured that it appeared as a separate entity to the rest of the action. The set consisted of three white overlapping layers of staging that framed the stage, with harsh angular edges that created a tense atmosphere and suggested to me that the impact of this play may have sinister connotations. The white card framing may also have represented the pages of a book, as this was the part of the play based directly on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. I found this staging effective in many ways at highlighting the director's intention, as the clinical layout of it suggested perhaps Vicky's looming slide into insanity and the beginnings of her illusions.
