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A play about making war - and not making love... The Talbot Theatre production of Lysistrata both entertained and delighted this member of the audience, who was there partly because of an English assignment requirement, but mainly because of the opportunity to enjoy a live theatre production. The theatre company employed many different components to bring this antiwar play to life that evening on the stage. These components can be broken into three categories, which visually enhanced the text of the play. The first of these categories is the setting, the stage lighting, and the props. The second component is the symbolism of some of those props, and the third component is the character portrayals by the actors on the stage. To take us back to ancient Greece, the props master employed a very simple interpretation using columns on a raised set of steps, with a backdrop of blue. To add to the feel of the era, a statue stands in the middle of the platform. This platform serves double duty as the Akropolis and as the Citadel, both of which the women have occupied. When the men light a fire below the walls of the Akropolis, smoke pours out of the bundle of sticks, making it appear as if a fire has reall
The most strikingly visual use of stage props is the appearance of larger than life erect phalluses under the tunics of all the male main characters during the second half of the play. After Kinesias leaves, more male characters appear with the same suffering and misery visible below their belts. Lysistrata was portrayed perfectly as a down-to-earth woman who has had enough of war and is willing to lead a revolution to end it. These seemingly grotesque male members serve to symbolize the frustration of the men. The costumes on the main characters evoked the image of the time, and helped to define the characters. Lampito carries herself differently and speaks with an accent, and although she is dressed somewhat the same as the other women, we realize that she comes from Sparta. When peace is finally achieved, it is a time for drinking, music and dancing. When Kinesias comes to see Myrrhine, and they head off to Pan's cave, the stage lighting is dimmed to give the effect of the darkness of being in a cave. Comic moments happen when the desperate-for-sex women try to sneak away from the Citadel and are caught by Lysistrata. There is a solo sung by one of the Spartans, who is then joined by more people in a dance. One of these women takes the helmet from the statue and tries to simulate a pregnancy that was not there the day before. Finally all of the group, both the men and the women are dancing and joyous. The characters presented the most impressive visual component.
Common topics in this essay:
Akropolis Citadel,
Sparta Magistrate,
Talbot Theatre,
,
main characters,
stage lighting,
kinesias comes myrrhine,
lysistrata women,
kinesias comes,
comes myrrhine,
theatre production,
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Acceptance Essays
