Dead Man’s Cell Phone used various design elements to convey the time, location, and underlying theme of the play through its set and costume design. While both set and costume design play a role, costume design offers a more personal and detailed insight into the characters and their contributions to the play. These design elements include space, line, shape, form, color, texture, and light.
The set and props in the play play a significant role in conveying information about time, mood, season, place, and character. By utilizing examples from the play, we can examine how these elements contribute to such descriptions. Let’s start by discussing the design of the set. In a play, the space is of utmost importance as it helps establish different locations. However, elements within the space are also necessary to define these locations. The use of props aids in this endeavor. For instance, the presence of tables and cups at the beginning of the play effectively conveys to the audience that the scene is set in a coffee shop or cafe.
One way to create distinction between spaces is by utilizing the back and front of the stage, as well as incorporating platforms. To illustrate, during Jean’s time in South Africa, she stood at the back of the stage, holding a suitcase. This allowed the audience to infer that she had exited a cafe or a house and was now situated on a street in South Africa. Additionally, props such as umbrellas, cell phones, jackets, and lighting contribute to establishing the setting and atmosphere.
In the play, actors walking across the stage with open umbrellas and cell phones, wearing jackets, indicated an outdoor setting with a bleak mood. The use of cell phones conveyed the modern time period of the play. Additionally, color and lighting were used to differentiate mood and location. One instance was during Gordon’s eulogy, where the dim lighting expressed a depressing mood while his mother spoke.
The texture of the backdrop was enhanced by the lighting, creating a noticeable effect. One instance of this was when Gordon and Jean were in purgatory; the white background and intense lighting conveyed the sense of an empty place. The set design also contributed to the linear feel. When facing the stage, the dining room scene was positioned on the left, with the cafe in the center, and either the stationary store or the living room on the right. While they were not part of the same scene, these elements were arranged in this order.
The elements space, line, shape, form, color, texture and light contribute to costume design. Color can highlight a character’s mood and also convey irony. For instance, during Gordon’s mother’s eulogy, she remarks on how black is no longer worn for mourning and finds it saddening. Ironically, she herself is wearing red, a color that typically represents happiness when someone dies. Mrs. Gottlieb’s attire is elegant, suggesting wealth and snobbery.
This is evident through her relationships with her children. She shows favoritism towards Gordon instead of Dwight. The costumes also indicate the setting and time. Rain coats imply that they were either outside or had been outside, possibly during rain. The costumes, lights, set, and sound collectively contribute to storytelling. However, I found the background confusing, particularly the orange structure featuring a house and other figures. Although I understood their intention, it was excessive and became a distraction.
