Class: Designing for Live Performance
Instructor: Andrew Lazarow
It is a great way to think of a play as a world passing in time and space. This is particularly true when a play does consist of one or more spaces, having its own chronological order.
By asking questions about the various components that affect the world or the planet of a play such as: space, time, tone, mood and the sub-components and details within each one allows one to explore that world as an experience. I think it is especially interesting and eye-opening for a designer to see and explore in such a way when designing that world.
I like "Don't Forget Yourself" section where the author reminds the "imaginer of worlds" to remember to ask oneself what emotions the world demands from them. At the end of the day, it is not just a visual experience, but an emotional journey that takes place over time and in space. Designing the performance also means designing how the emotions are being portrayed and conveyed to others, so then the question of how this should be done, taking into consideration the designer's own interpretation is crucial.
The essay focuses not only on the way to see a play, but most importantly to ask series of questions. I think a lot of these questions may not come as a surprise; however, they may be easy to be overlooked or forgot. In addition, by asking the right questions, for a live performance designer, it creates a critical mind and brings out the potential in the design process.