MEDEA ESSAY IN THE BASICS Analyse the extent

MEDEA ESSAY IN THE BASICS

Analyse the extent to which two of the following __did something__ in a theatrical presentation you have seen recently Tech 1 Tech 2 Tech 3 Tech 4 Your analysis must include details of the dramatic impact achieved and the audience response. You must give equal weighting to your two chosen areas. You must give analytical points to gain full marks. *** anything in colour is the variable that could change***

INTRODUCTION • Tell the examiner about your play. Title, company, where you saw it, when you saw it etc. (In September I saw the National Theatre’s live production of Medea at Eden Court in Inverness***remember Sept. no one can know about last week) • Make a comment about it’s over all dramatic impact on the audience and use the “did something” word. (e. g. I thought the play was very strong in it’s design and the impact on the audience highlighted the “conflicting relationships” well) • Define your “did something” (conflicting relationships can be defined as one where characters circumstances or personalities are incompatible and therefore cause strain on their relationship) • Tell them your basic stance on this definition and what areas of tech you will talk about (I think that the NT’s production of Medea explored conflicting relationships in detail in all areas of production but they were most highlighted through costume design and the use of props

In September I saw the National Theatre’s live production of Medea at Eden Court in Inverness. I thought the play was very strong in it’s design and the impact on the audience highlighted the “conflicting relationships” well. Conflicting relationships can be defined as those where characters circumstances or personalities are incompatible and therefore cause strain on their relationship. I think that the NT’s production of Medea explored conflicting relationships in detail in all areas of production but they were most highlighted through costume design and the use of props

Some definitions we have made up so far Enhanced Relationships between characters: Something that changes the dynamic of how the audience views the relationship Passage of Time: A character’s journey through varied experiences and actions Conflicting relationships: Those where characters circumstances or personalities are incompatible and therefore cause strain on their relationship Strength: a characters determination to carry out actions either physically or mentally which they find difficult Melancholy: a deep sadness the characters suffer due to the actions of others or the circumstances of the story Contrasting Characters: Characters which have juxtaposing points of view and systems of belief

FOCUS ON AREA OF TECH 1 In the first paragraph of the section mention the element of the tech you are writing about. (Firstly I will focus on costume. ) Describe the specific area of tech you are talking about (During the first part of the play Medea wore a brown oversized and dirty tank top and men’s brown suit trousers cinched at the waist by a belt. Her bra was visible and the clothes were crumpled as if she has worn them for days. The size of them suggest she was wearing Jason’s old clothes. ) Then discuss the dramatic impact on the audience but make sure you tie it back to your DEFINITION. Relationships where characters circumstances or personalities are incompatible and therefore cause strain on their relationship. Through this design the audience understood the context for the recent split between Medea and Jason. If this situation were amicable or planned Medea would be wearing her own well kept clean clothes. The costume choice shows the strain on their relationship as severe because she is dirty and clinging to anything that reminds her of her happier times with Jason.

Firstly I will focus on costume. During the first part of the play Medea wore a brown oversized and dirty tank top and men’s brown suit trousers cinched at the waist by a belt. Her bra was visible and the clothes were crumpled as if she has worn them for days. The size of them suggest she was wearing Jason’s old clothes. Through this design the audience understood the context for the recent split between Medea and Jason. If this situation were amicable or planned Medea would be wearing her own well kept clean clothes. The costume choice shows the strain on their relationship as severe because she is dirty and pathetically clinging to anything that reminds her of her happier times with Jason. Now do this 4 more times with 3 other elements of your area of tech

Some examples from the SQA advisors classes Direction • A directorial decision was made to represent Maggie’s baby by a small sand bag. She interacted tenderly with the prop and carefully soothed it and placed it in a cot as if it were a baby. This linked the idea of work and the toil of the farmer’s wives in the rural setting. (1 mark) • By representing the baby in this way this further reinforced the director’s decision of the stylised stage design with simple set props, all of a brown tone, being used to create different settings and objects such as the barn, a kitchen, a plough and a water pump all of which communicated the rural atmosphere. (1+ mark)

Acting • There was a change to the heavy mood toward the end of the first act; each of the women took to a wooden work-board and used this as a platform for ceilidh dancing. The women danced in synchronisation, with a rapidly building pace, their faces showing wide grins and obvious excitement. (1 mark) The growing bond of the women was highlighted in this moment and it helped to create a feeling of empowerment in the women. (1+ marks)

Acting • The actress playing Jenny communicated the resiliance and positive attitude of the young bondager. Upon returning from the Kirn, she sang a traditional celtic song exuberantly and laughed playfully as she entered the space. (1 mark) As she sat, out of breath from enjoyment, on the wooden box centre stage she splayed her legs in an almost gender-defiant manner and highlighted the changing attitude of women in her generation; this created an atmosphere of rebellion and hope. (1+mark)

Set • One of the main features of the set was the stage floor; this was covered in thick dark soil which helped to communicate the rural environment in which the women were working. The lighting changes upon the soil, as well as the movement of set pieces across the stage and mole hills appearing helped to show the seasonal passing of time. (1 mark) This helped the audience to understand the time scale of the play but also worked with other theatre arts in conveying the different moods and atmospheres throughout the year. The soil fell off the stage into the audience and went all the way upstage to the back wall, emphasising the idea the Bondage being an endless/timeless trade. (1+ mark)

Words that can help you describe the audience impact • This feature further communicated …… • This reinforced the idea…. • The featured developed…. . • This helped the audience to understand…. .

Focus on area of tech 2 In the first paragraph of the section mention the element of the tech you are writing about. Step one: Describe what happened on stage. Step two: Discuss the dramatic impact on the audience but make sure you tie it back to your DEFINITION. Relationships where characters circumstances or personalities are incompatible and therefore cause strain on their relationship.

For a conclusion you generally write your introduction backwards and you get a basic sum-up I think that the NT’s production of Medea explored conflicting relationships in detail in all areas of production but as I have discussed they were highlighted most strongly through costume design and the use of props. Conflicting relationships can be defined as those where characters circumstances or personalities are incompatible and therefore cause strain on their relationship. I thought the play was very strong in it’s design and the impact on the audience highlighted the “conflicting relationships” well.