Applying Peter BrookPurposeI feel that Rough Theatre is the style I want to direct this in as it “abandons convention and expectation”. It is obscene and shocks the audience into realization by being raw and open to abject materials. The audience unprepared and hence surprised by every element of the play. By using Rough theatre, I hope to create a memorable sensory experience that will entertain and enlighten.

VenueThis can be staged anywhere, preferably a thrust stage. It doesn’t need a platform, rather a space where the audience surrounds the performance area on three sides.

Actor audience relationshipThe best way to describe the relationship between the actors and the audience would be to liken them to a forceful prophet and an unsuspecting stranger. The actors “force” the “good news” onto the audience who are jolted into realization of the message encoded in the play. A catharsis that allows the audience to appreciate the absurdity of life.

Staging There will be a stenciled image of the cross section of a brain on the floor with croquet hoops along the folds. Only C will be playing croquet by herself. The ball is transparent and in it, an enormous blood clot. C maneuvers the ball through the hoops and reaches the small hoop in the center at the line “Elaine continues to scrawl across papers with her red felt pen”. Throughout the scene, B flirts with A and A plays hard to catch. There is a lot of physical contact between them, which involves a lot of groping, S&M (A’s stick) and intimacy in proximity. Their relationship mocks Elaine. She also desires a relationship and has her eyes on Sam. However A and B play out what she wanted,but couldn’t bring about because of her teacher student relationship with Sam. C is innocent like and silly, constantly tripping over her large clown shoes as she attempts to play croquet. Her frock is open at the back, hinting at her being not completely innocent as it exposes her bra and underwear. She is either unaware or not concerned by it. The intention for this is to reveal to the audience to not be fooled by innocent, nice people. Everyone has impurity in them. Placards with a danger sign will be stuck onto Pa as his situation worsens.

Design (set, costume, etc)My concept for this is vibrancy and lewdness. Bright colors and revealing costumes that highlight the state of the characters. For example, for Elaine’s dad, his costume would be an oversized diaper with a large safety pin in front. A grown man in a diaper is highly obscene but at a glance, the audience can identify the comparison of an old man to a baby, the common characteristic being ‘helplessness’. This is further established by the rocking chair/cradle that he is sitting on throughout the scene. My aim is to contrast A, B, C and Pa to Elaine and emphasize her simplicity. All the costumes reveal a lot of skin except for Elaine’s which is designed to make her look like a drab with oversized clothes yet look comfortable and plain. The blood clot, made to look as realistic as possible with the intent to disgust, is symbolic and critical to the play. Everything is symbolic, never literal, the meanings obscured yet obvious.

LIST:-Rough theatre device: placards (DANGER) *illustrated below-Blood clot made of red food dye and gelatin (as real as possible) in a transparent ball, size of volleyball. Not easily breakable so preferably plastic. Amount of blood clot should be enough to slosh around and look generally disgusting in the ball.-Huge geeky specs for Elaine-A (Teacher), B (student), C (random)*Costumes illustrated below-Rocking chair/cradle and newspaper for Pa-Baggy plain tee shirt (navy blue) and grey sweatpants.-Pampers with a large safety pin in front, albert Einstein wig and moustache for Pa-Shapeless frock that’s open at the back, plain white bra and panties which is visible from the back. clown shoes and Pink poodle hair wig for C-Bow tie, suspenders and swimming trunks for B (all in red)-Sexy teacher costume, regular teacher specs (rectangular frame) and the stick!!! for A-stencil of brain on the floor-croquet malletsx3 and hoops (5 big, 1 small-the big ones should be enough for the ball of blood clot to pass through but not the small one)

-perfume or spray that smells like blood-sprayed at intervals throughout the scene as it develops. The coppery smell should permeate the room at the climax. About line “Transient Ischemic Attack”

Rehearsal processTraining prior to the performance will not be as intense as the prep for Holy. However, the actors need to possess athletic bodies. Especially for B who will require Ab definition and a V line.

Stenciled on the floor with the croquet hoops stationed along the folds. The smallest hoop in the centre.

Optimal theatre space for performance

Elaine’s nerd glasses

Pa’s hairstyle/moustache Costume for A (above)

Costume for B (all in red)

Costume for C

Placard Croquet

Blood Clot

Rocking chair/Cradle