The Importance Of Directing In Zellerback Theatre

In the beginning of the play, the mood appereared to dark with mystery and intrigue. The lighting appeared to be affected by one major system which was the high sides. In other words high sides being a traditional perspective like the Zellerback Playhouse would coming from high up on the side and then a series of them (meaning the lighting fixtures, etc). Covering all areas of the stage, (e.g., downstage, upstage, upper stage left upper stage right, etc). The light fixtures all blended in a full wash on each side. In addition, it appeared that the lighting designer Jack Carpenter kept some of the lighting in a proscenium direction, the other aspects of lighting it appears he used more as back diagonal with color strollers on them, these would
be the high sides, you see that light are matched out in the front of the stage and in the next pipe next to it as well. This also was the effect in the area of upstage as well. The majority of the audience became more of a back diagonal and for the actors that they playing that became more a straight side. Due to seating on side of the stage it altered the design layout, and the plotting of the fixtures. Traditionally speaking as proscenium would not have that type of seating arrangements . That type of seating would be more towards the center or the upper balconies. The orientation of body to the audience is in an important factor to consider when it comes to lighting design as evident in how the lighting was displayed for Polaroid stories. Tradionally, the Zellerbach house is proscenium house. The effect of the lighting and the direction from Margo was that she wanted to get people more close and to make feel them much more viseral and not something that you can sit back and look at the Greek tragedy from way over the audience and not get the in your face effect. Moreover, the high side lightign when you could see the actors on stage although they wete lit, the effect was much more shadowy. This type of lighting that produced the shadowy effect the Lighting designer one can say the piece warranted that effect. Finally, something that is worth mention as far the lighting design is concerned is that a top light that is really valuable, and it is fairly universal. It can be viewed from anywhere on the stage as an actor fairly well lit..