The Importance of Being Earnest

THEA 1331April 16, 2014

Sobia NoormohammedAmir Hossain

Danish AliAamir Syed

Director.

By Amir Hossain

Cast List

John Worthing – James Franco Algernon Moncrieff- Tobey Maguire

Gwendolen Fairfax - Scarlett Johansson

Cecily Cardew - Megan Fox

Lady Bracknell - Rosemary Harris Miss Prism - Sally Field

Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D.- Martin Sheen Merriman - Rhys Ifans

Lane- Michael Caine

Spine and Theme

• The spine for the play is to give a humorous mood because the two main actors are deceiving everyone in the play.

• The spine correlates with the theme “The Importance of not being earnest” because the spine gives off a humorous mood which is exactly the opposite of serious.

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Style

• The style of the play would be realism because the play depicts real life scenarios so the audience can better relate to the play. This style helps illuminate the spine because it allows the actors in the play to act in a humorous way in a more realistic environment.

Directorial Concept

• The Directorial Concept would be to portray a humorous mood to go with the theme “Importance of not being earnest”. The main goal of the play would be for the audience to better understand the importance of the theme using all elements such as design and acting.

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Set Design

By: Sobia Noormohammed

The Main Idea

• The purpose of the play in relations with the set is to make the audience feel and to experience the story first-hand.

The Scenic Environment

• The scene design “sets the stage” for a production.

• The play is set to parody the Victorian high society.

• Majority of Act I and Act III is set to be in a house. Either Algernon’s or Jack’s Manor House.

• Act II was mainly set to be outdoors, among the grooves and rose gardens.

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Style and Mood

• Since the set of the play is mostly at a home, it is enclosed to portray the idea that a home is a not always a place of peace.

• The outdoors set is not used to imply nature’s beauty, but rather using little details that aren’t that important to set a sort of superficial tone.

Realistic & Non-Realistic Setting

• A realistic scenery calls for settings that look very much like their counterparts in real life.

• The home/ rose garden scene is realistic, and it works as a mirror to what the scene will represent like in reality.

Location + Time Period

• The entirety of the play took place in the summer of 1894 in Worthing, England.

• Act I took place in London. • Acts II and III were located in

Hertfordshire.

Design Concept

• The main set of the play is to mimic the life and times of the Victorian nobles.

• The Victorian high society is copied to prove that they also maintain the same morals and values such as triviality and flirtation.

Central Image/Visual Metaphor

• The central image of the play is the double life. It is defined in the play by using the term “Bunburying.” It is the practice of producing an deception that allows one to behave badly while having the top most responsibilities and duties.

Scenery with Production Elements

• Together, with the director, set, costumes, and light the play can run smoothly and each aspect can coordinate with one another to make an effective play.

Costume Design

By: Danish Ali

Historical Period of Play

• The setting of the play takes place in the late 1800’s in England mostly.

• The costumes would be based on this setting, making most of the characters have the wealthy English look.

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Showing Importance Between characters

Main Characters

• More flashy, or flamboyant attire.

• Suits and gowns that make the

characters look young, and broad.

Side Characters• More dull attire

• More jewelry and attire to make

the characters look more old since

most of the side characters are

older in this play.

Main Characters Side Characters

Meeting needs of Performers

• Another important aspect of costume design.• Measuring every inch on the actresses/actors

body to make sure they’re comfortable while performing on stage.

• Making sure that the actor/actress doesn't look stagnant on stage.

• Communicating with actors verbally to make sure that they’re comfortable with the material of the costumes.

Lighting Design

By: Aamir Syed

Overall Mood

• The mood of the play is a humorous • For this mood there should be a bright lights

covering the whole stage for the most part• The intensity of the lights should be high• There should be bright colors• The use of floodlights should be employed

Different Types of Lighting

• In scenes such as in Act III Part Two where only one or two characters are doing the most action such as Lady Bracknell and Miss Prism the lighting should be different

• There should be a spotlight on the characters doing the most action

• The surrounding area and characters should be in dimmer lighting

Special Lighting Scenes

• In the scene where Jack starts asking Miss Prism for further details about the handbag, the lights should be dimmed to give off an aura of mystery

• When Jack runs out and brings back the handbag, there should be a spotlight on the handbag

Examples of Lighting

Coordination

• Also, for this play the actors are very important in getting the message of the play across so the lighting or any other technical aspect should not overshadow the actors