FENCES4.docx

Based on my understanding of a production concept, I will shape the stage using a black box. Through my interpretation, I see the play taking place generally at home, with a very household feel since most of the dialogue takes place in Troy?s house. For instance, Troy and Bono have their weekly ritual of drinking there as they catch up on each other's lives and share stories. I believe that using the theatrical space of a black box would be most effective to communicate my vision since it is considered by many to be a place where more "pure" theatre can be performed. This type of theatrical space has the most human and least technical elements being in focus, which makes sense to the storyline of Fences. The concept of this building design is mainly for flexible staging techniques with a strong relationship between the audience and the performers. I like the concept of this strong relationship because I want the audience to have a close view of the performers, connecting personally, almost as if they can feel their emotions. The versatility of staging is good for visual effects, such as maybe putting a mini fence around the set. Since Rose building a fence in the Maxson's backyard was a very important literal and a figurative device, representing the relationships that hold together and break apart the family, this could be something put around the main stage or even just in front of each row of audiences. Since I have to take blocking into effect, I would make the fence rather short, but high enough to be noticeable by the audience. Also, skyscrapers could also be a background visual to represent the urban community, which the Maxson?s live in. Again, blocking would have to be taken into effect, as to not disturb the audience?s attention on the play, but provide a nice visual. These major stage images will help convey certain themes of the play with the audience, and the theatrical stage allows these visual images to function in a flexible space. I would also remember to consider that because a black box intertwines with the audience there sometimes is an audience all around the main stage. So as a director, I would remind the performers to be aware of this. With different scenes, movement of the actors/actresses is opt to change since loose chairs and platforms can be easily moved around to allow the entire space to be adapted to the artistic elements of a production.