The set design is minimalistic and offers new thought provoking ideas about the sub-text of the story. The set which was designed by Miriam Nabarro gave the audience clear understanding about Zef’s home-life and family situation. There was scaffolding framing the set making a small chlosterphobic space representing the Bunga family home, which also shows the confinement of where Anne was in hiding from Nazi Germany. The piece becomes timeless as there is a minimalistic set of a table and chairs and several boxes and a few recognizable household items, I believe this is a reflection on society. Another interpretation of the set was the representation it had on Anne Frank’s historical context the scaffolding and the exposure of bolts and ties made the scaffolding reflect the entrapment of a concentration camp. Anne experiments with freedom, but her past ties her to the set to show that her memories are still apart of her. Ropes were another key feature in the set as they represented a contrasting theme of freedom and death. The ropes were in the shape of nooses at the start, also a symbol of death. Two chairs hang on the ropes representing the disappearance of both of their sons and the father gently handles the chairs to show the guilt he feels for their deaths and disappearance.
The costume gave the audience a clear insight into the characters background and historical and social context. There was a visual link instantly between Anne and Zef as they both wore red, showing on the surface what they have in common. The mother handled and wore red clothing also linking her into the blood feud and the concept of death where as the father did not and verbally indicate how he did not want to be part of the blood feud. The mother and fathers costume were dull and muted emphasising again the timelessness of the piece and also my interpretation of their tiredness, emptiness and feeling drained. Also the mother changes costume which indicates progression whereas Anne and Zef’s clothing doesn’t change, meaning in heaven time is stood still, though there is a clear progression in their relationship.
Page 1
The only warm light the parents have is the kitchen candle light when the mother makes her confession and looks back at her memories; this shows a bond and understanding in the relationship between herself and her husband, this could also be a spiritual representation as the mother was looking to god for protection.
The simplicity of the stage lighting gave the audience clear indication of what was reality and what was heaven. When heaven was portrayed lanterns surrounding the scaffolding would ooze a warm light which made the atmosphere calm, safe and protective. This lighting gave the scene an essence of dreams and wonder far from what society is like. Projection was another main contributor to the different dimensions to the play. In this picture Anne was speaking while birds were projected onto a curtain alongside writing from her diary and expressive of Anne’s longing for freedom. Projections of clouds were used, the clouds were at first close together as Anne and Zef were both trying to justify their deaths. As they issues became clearer to Zef, the clouds moved apart and with the help of the ropes it gave the illusion that they were free, flying through the air to a higher heaven.
The lighting The Lighting was a lot colder there was no warmth and this emphasised the cracks in the relationships within the family unit. The only changes in lighting is when Anne talks about her passed a dull, cold spot- light shines on her reflecting how such memories are still vivid.
The sound was made by mostly pre-recordings in the form of narration, as the story of Zefs death was told to the audience. The sound of a gunshot which killed Zef shocked the audience but gave us an understanding of what had just happened. A scream shortly followed the gunshot which was the mother who entered from the audience a form of communication and how this could happen to anyone. The engaged audience automatically focused on the mother as we felt sympathy for the family. Aural impacts created atmosphere. Another form of aural affects was the singing of Anne , after a while all the characters join in singing and this shows unity and a connection between life and death, even though characters in reality did not show any interaction with Anne and Zef creating even more of an illusion that they were ghosts. There was also sound of props which were usually handled by the mother and were an extension of her own.
Through the directing of Ben kidd this translation is retold and brought to life by an exciting set which captures the audiences imagination and engagement straight-away. The growing relationship between Anne and Zef captures the emotions of the audience as they are free from the reality, conflict and pain. I believe this reflects an imaginative interpretation of how death should be and how we should worry less and dream more.
Page 2
Word count ; 1,025
by
emilie-jane (student)
