The Package
Genre
Themes
Magic Realism
"A type of storytelling in which the magical makes a surprising appearance in a realistic context. The contrast between the fantastical and real elements is used to heighten drama and challenge perceptions."
Source: https://theconversation.com/explainer-magical-realism-51481
Acting
Set
Lighting
Puppetry
Symbols
Mask meant that movements were exaggerated. Despite this it was successful
Surrealism
"While it is not possible to speak of a Surrealist style, at the heart of the Surrealist aesthetic was the illogical, unexpected juxtapositions of disparate elements"
"Surrealism’s fascination with dreams and the unconscious led the way to a new kind of imagery: the precise portrayal of dream-like scenes"
Love
Family/ Relationships
Lust
Dealing with the ageing process (old and young)
Life and Death
Finding peace and coming to terms with life
Where do we go afterwards?
Butterflies represent life, youth, beauty, happiness, freedom and rebirh
The Bird: gives her the chance to see her life again, relive memories; ultimately represent death
Boxes = memories = The Package title
The oversized genitalia represented youth - humourous play on old age bodies. Also lust: despite waiting for marriage they were overtly sexual; heightened and exaggerated
Puppets used in memories as they are static; someone else is controlling them
The walking stick: institutionalisation, nursing homes; freed her self of that dependence by the end of the play as she came to terms with life
Institutionalisation/ nursing home
Project emotion onto puppets
Masks: project emotion, fit in with puppetry/physical; helps with characterisation
Helps with characterisation e.g. death of old woman was shown via a puppet; surreal moment where she 'buries' herself
Moments
The doctor scene - institutionalisation. Doctors moving in straight lines, harsh lighting, etc compared to the warm, musical, curves of other scenes
The underwater scene was symbolic of moving through life; water gives life, can also take it away
Bare staging, minimalistic, flexible, gives importance to the actors and puppets
Bed was harsh, hard to get on to, boxes formed set as we unpacked them
Projection: used for storytelling, also used for another magic realism opportunities
Sound
Music was used as voice, as well as emotion/tone
The use of voice distracted from overall tone of scene e.g. childbirth scene
Live sound, brings the audience into the scene
Violet/blue/non-natural built the dreamlike state of the play
Dim lighting to force the audience to also peer in.
Specials to highlight symbols
The bird was in darkness when the old woman was dying
Allows for flexible casting, builds magic / surreal dream state
Multi-dimensional: all elements to create the dream state
The window on projection signified when we were looking at the old woman's reality or her memory. Often the window would change to show the movement back into reality
The storybook of her life, that was projected with the small light onto screen. Focussing on particular parts, theatrical, and also told narrative
Can also show that she has some level of control over the puppets and can change her interpretation of her own life
Multiple characters for few actors - presenting a story, a showcase of her life rather than something she is in control of
Contrasting lighting used for emotional effect