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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Essay

434 Words2 Pages

When an audience watches a play there are countless observations to be made, therefore it becomes unfeasible for every last detail to be noticed. While the audience quickly examines the backdrops and set pieces or the actors’ overall appearance, they often do not immediately notice the minute details which later prove to be vital to the play’s plot. For example, in August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, upon entering the stage for the first time, Levee reveals the new shoes which he has just purchased, but it does not become clear until much later just how important these shoes are. I feel that in order to maximize the impact the shoes have on the play, they must set Levee apart and look different than any other shoes seen on stage. In …show more content…

I believe that the location and year in which the play is set, 1927 Chicago, should remain unchanged to protect the historical integrity because “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” actually was recorded in 1927. I would ensure that the play takes place on a small proscenium stage with a curtain, as I feel that this size allows the audience to feel more intimately involved in the action while still maintaining the traditional elements of a theatre production. The backdrops and color scheme of the play would be fairly simple, as I envision the recording studio to look slightly rundown, but with subtle glimpses into the studio’s past grandeur. In order to achieve this effect, the studio’s decor should be mostly neutral, but there could be a few pops of color on the posters of the famous artists who previously recorded there which adorn the walls. In order to account for the two different rooms which are included in the stage directions, the stage could be divided in half, so when the lighting is focused on one side the action is in the studio, and when the other side is lighted the action is in the bandroom. Overall, I feel that the set should be kept fairly simple so that the audience’s focus is directed onto the plot, props, and

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