As the play is a memory play the lighting is usually quite dim to give an atmosphere. However in certain parts of the play the lighting becomes focused on certain characters. A clear example of this is during scene three, where Tom and Amanda are quarrelling about Tom’s job. Even though Laura does not say anything, some would argue that she is the most important character in the scene. This is due to the “clear pool of light on her figure,” she is also has “clenched hands and a panicky expression.” She is obviously worried about the argument between her mother and her brother. The white light could suggest her innocence, virginity or her pureness but many would say it suggests all these things and she resembles a holy angel.
Amanda buys a rose coloured lamp to go in the room for the gentlemen caller. After Amanda talks about her life in Tennessee and the gentlemen callers she received, “she switches on the rose-coloured lamp.” This lamp could be to show that Amanda looks upon life, and the world in ‘rose coloured spectacles’ meaning that she thinks everything is perfect. This also collaborates with the fact that she can not admit that her daughter is crippled. She uses euphemism and calls it a “defect.”
Lighting is also used when Tom is leaning over the fire escape, and he’s thinking of ways to leave his home. It says, “the incandescent marquees and signs of the 1st run movie light his face…He looks like a voyager.” As the lighting makes him look like a voyager, it shows his compassion for adventure.
The screen device that is specified provides images, which are pictures, or legends, which are phrases or single words. These images and legends usually come on before the scene, and usually are about an important aspect in it. They also come on as soon as something important has been said, to add emphasis on what has been said. At the beginning of the scene the legend is “Laura, haven’t you ever liked some boy?” This gives the audience an idea of what the scene could be about, and also puts emphasis on the phrase when Amanda says it later on in the scene. There are blue roses on the screen, to represent Laura, because Jim called her that in high school. Sometimes the legends could show feelings of a certain character, Such as when Laura finds out that her mother has got Jim to come round to dinner. The legend on the screen is “Not Jim!” because this is what Laura is thinking. Many time the word “Terror” has appeared as a legend on the screen to show that the character is applies to is trying to keep themselves together, but inside is thinking something different. Not many plays are specified with a screen device, so it gives the play originality.
The costumes and props also have an impact on the atmosphere, but they mainly set the play into context; Such as Laura’s victrola. The fact that she plays a victrola show that it’s not a twenty first-century play. In the 1930’s in which the play is set victrola’s were popular. We know it was set in the 1930’s because Tom mentions it in his opening lines at the beginning of the play, “the thirties, when the huge middle class of America.” In the thirties it was the time of the great depression after the wall street crash in America, so there was a lot going on outside of their little home. He also makes references towards “In Spain there was Guernica.” This also suggests that World War two is about to start.
Atmosphere is also created when props are not in use. Williams specifies this in the first scene where the stage directions indicate, “Eating is gestured without food or utensils.” There is also another direction in the play which arrives shortly after, saying, “Tom deliberately lays his imaginary fork down,” The use of not having any utensils in this scene, is to set the fact that it is a memory play. It is too difficult to remember minor details, so they are left out. Some directors would be unsure if Williams was meant to say “imaginary fork, ” or if it is an accident because if the fork is imaginary how can the audience be able to tell it’s a fork.
The most important prop in this play has to be the glass menagerie it self. Firstly because it’s the title of the play, but more importantly because it is part of Laura’s character. Laura is part of the glass menagerie and it’s a part of Laura. She takes a great care with her glass ornaments “My glass collection takes up a good deal of time. Glass is something you have to take good care of.” When things inside the house become rough, such as Amanda and Tom quarrelling she often looks towards her glass menagerie for comfort; she treasures it dearly. She is shattered because of Tom’s clumsy actions: “ With an outraged groan he tears the coat off again splitting the shoulder of it, and hurls it across the room. It strikes against the shelf of Laura’s glass collection, there is a tinkle of shattering glass. Laura cries out as if wounded.”
As the glass menagerie is part of Laura, when it shatters so does she, so that’s why William’s uses the term “wounded” because she has also been broken.
As mentioned before, William’s does use an awful amount of stage direction. Some would say that he specifies too much, therefore decreasing the opportunity for a director’s own interpretation. Others say its useful to have as many stage directions there, also that he’s the one who wrote the play, so he should be able to have it performed exactly how he imagined. Some of the stage directions he uses still allow for individual interpretation because he says some things such as, “A fragile, unearthly prettiness has come out in Laura: she is like a piece of translucent glass touched by light, given a momentary radiance, not actual, not lasting.” This could allow a lot of interpretation for the director to conceive and portray in his or her own vision.
The music used in the play varies from ominous music, when something bad is going to happen, to dancing music when people are dancing. The music that is used gives the audience an idea of what is going to happen next such as the “ominous music.” The audience has a brief idea that something bad is going to happen next. The victrola, Laura’s comfort also provides mellow music, which suggests that it, is comforting her. The music also gives atmosphere such as “ Waltz music: ‘La Golondrina” even though Jim and Laura are dancing it also gives a romantic atmosphere.
Laura’s “glass menagerie music” is used when Laura is on stage and usually having a sorrowful moment. It sometimes is used before a scene to show that Laura will be in it. Sometimes all the stage direction’s say is “music,” this also gives a chance for the director to interpret the play in their own way.
To make a play effective, the play has to captivate the audiences attention at all times. The effects that William’s uses help to capture their attention. It must give the audience something to think about, during the play and after it aswell. The glass menagerie was quite an unusual play; it keeps the audience’s interests to a certain extent. However there are areas in the play which some may find less amusing. The play may move the audience because they will sympathise with Laura and maybe Tom or Amanda. People feel empathy towards Laura because she always seems to be getting stuck in the middle of arguments between Tom and Amanda. She also is crippled, and her mother cannot admit to the fact. The all too well known image of the nagging mother, pressuring her to get married and have a family life of her own is also understandable in today’s busy world. It also has a sad ending, which moves the audience. If the play was to leave the audience with a message it would probably be, “even after life shoots you down, keep bouncing back up and getting on with it.” To be honest, the play does not give an obvious message; instead it sends out a selection of many messages that different people could conclude in different ways.
The main focus of the play is Laura and the gentlemen caller. The effects add and give atmosphere to this and make it seem special it adds romance to the play. The secondary focus would probably be Tom and his willingness to escape. The audience could also empathise with Tom because even after he left, he came back. This means that he did clearly cares for his family but stress and pressure drove him away. He obviously misses them and would like to see them but he can’t. People who have lost loved ones or are orphans could empathise with his character in this way.
The play may include a huge amount of stage direction and Visual and musical effects for the director to consider but as far as what the audience sees, it is an interesting and entertaining play. This is mainly due to the visual and musical effects, also to the uniqueness of the screen device and also to obscure story line of the play. It’s a breath of fresh air because it is one of the most realistic plays that most people would ever come across. Usually in plays, which include a man and a woman in a romantic story line, end in living happily ever after, whereas this play proves that life is not really like that. This is one of the reasons why the audience would probably enjoy the play. If the play did not have the visual and musical effects it would still be a decent play, they just add and collaborate to the dialogue to make it into a uniquely great play. They also create an atmosphere, which cannot be created with acting by itself. In all the play is unique and interesting but, the visual and musical effects are what make up a great deal of the play and add to the originality of it.
English Modern Drama Coursework.