“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” was a very interesting play. It had a very basic set and only one location, and is performed by only four actors. Ultimately, the play gets deep into the minds of the characters, and dissects the two marriages prominent in the play. Because this play focuses a lot on what is going on in the text, it seems as though this might be a difficult play to direct. For one, as a director, one must be able to explain to the audience what is happening in the play, for as I read it, I had trouble even understanding which characters existed. As a director of this play, I would have to be able to make it clear that George and Martha’s son did not exist.
Another thing one would have to make sure of as one put on this play is that the drunkenness throughout the story must not be played too over the top, for the play is certainly not a comedy. However, it must be clear that the characters are drunk, for much of what they do and say would not make sense if they were not. One thing I have learned through Shakespeare camp is that the best way to act drunk is to try to act sober. A drunk person, does not try to convince friends that he is smashed, but instead tries to persuade them that he is still capable of using his inhibitions and common sense. To play drunk as if one is trying to stay sober lends an authenticity to acted drunkenness that staggering around on the stage does not.
Also, as a director, one must be careful not to let the amount of sitting and talking in the play make the play stagnant. Though the actors might be sitting, one has to make sure that the speed is kept up, that there is enough movement, and that the show stays interesting, because the moment the audience gets bored, it becomes thousands of times harder to recapture their attention.
Another thing I would focus on if I were to direct this play would be following who holds the power in a certain portion of the play. It seems to me as though it should always remain clear to the audience who is I charge at a certain point. At the beginning of the show, Martha holds the reigns, controlling her husband and the social scene, but she trades power positions with George throughout the play and by the end, George has all of the power over her. At some points, nick even holds some power, as in the end when he begins to piece everything together. When he remains the only sane and functioning person on the set, he has all of the power, and through blocking, line reading, intonation, and volume, the bearer of power in a scene should be clear.
A final thing I would watch for as a director would be to not let the actor playing Honey fall through the cracks. Though she often seems small, pitiful, and at times, even unimportant, she is a vital character. Her interaction with George at the end of the play before Nick and Martha return from the kitchen is extremely important, revealing important parts of her nature and the nature of her and Nick’s marriage.
All-in-all, this extremely psychological play seems as though it might be hard to direct. It has many deep themes and other important aspects which need to be emphasized. It also needs to be clearly portrayed so that it is understandable to an audience while still keeping them on the edge of their seat and making them think. The play should kindle fear, outrage, and pity within the audience, but should also be frank and honest. Full of opposites, this play should be played to the fullest.
No comments:
Post a Comment