Changes of Heart: A Costume Interpretation

             The play "Changes of Heart" reflects the irony and surprises of love in an entertaining story about broken hearts and new interests. The period of the play is set in the early eighteen hundreds and deals with the temptations of love compared to the temptations of money and material wealth. The costume design, although not as extravagant as many larger plays, was able to convey the theme of the production, as well as the different feelings and dimensions of the characters.
             When the first scene begins, a young girl, later known as Silvia, sits in the middle of the floor picking daisies and smiling attentively. She is wearing a modest white dress and apron, signifying that she is a peasant or commoner. This attire, especially the color, becomes a symbol of innocence and naiveté throughout the production. The innocence that Silvia exudes is quickly ripped away when the Prince's servant Trivelin takes her from her familiar village and transports her to the Prince's castle filled with wealthy lords and ladies. The green jacket and pants that Trivelin wears fit nicely with the theme of wealth and superficiality of the people who live in the castle.
             Among the other characters of wealth in the castle is Lisette, a woman far too preoccupied with looks to even notice that her superficiality is an annoyance to everyone she meets. Her dress is supposed to be one of stature and importance, but because of her fake intentions, she comes off looking more like a two-dollar hooker than anything else. Her bright tacky orange ensemble is more than anyone can bear. She paints her face in matching orange, and dots of beauty mark all over her face and busting bosom to appear more attractive to the prince. The irony here is that the simple dress and natural beauty of Silvia are what the prince most likes about her.
             Silvia's boyfriend and love Harlequin steps onto the scene with a heavy plaid jacket, knickerbockers, and a red mask that covers th...

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