Angels In America Film Analysis

Angels In America

1. Identify two stage productions of Angels in America* and discuss how variations in design position audiences to make meanings in relation to character and themes. [It may be useful to focus on one element (e.g. costume, set construction, lighting etc.) and explore how variations in this one element influence the audience’s meaning making process].

INTRO

The stage production for many years has been a collaborative effort of different art forms combining to become a single whole piece to be presented to the audience. An audience is aware of the elements in a play, but they are not always aware of why the use of the elements is effective and why they are needed for certain scenes or actions. Stage productions are artistic

The collaborative effort between Jean-Pierre Brossman and his lighting designer has taken this realistic approach to make this performance seem as clsoe to the real world as possible. Morgan, N (2008)has stated from his works “That sometimes a good lighting design is one where the audience don not realise there are lights themselves”. This is the approach they have gone for to make the lights seem like there not even there they light up enough to make it just seem like its a normal bulb and not a over the top light. This effect of realistic lights helps the audience be able to make better connection with the character. The more real the scenario feel the more you can relate to it and make a more conscious decision on what you are seeing making the themes feel more relatable.

Angels In America , directed by Adeosun Adeolu Joseph, is far more of a theatrical piece. A theatre piece uses far more of the elements such as sound, lighting, scenery and costume to its advantage to help in telling the narrative and message of the story. Adeosun Joseph chosen style of theatrical style is drama, the elements to this are usually a narrative represented in