The Woolgatherer

Written by William MastrosimoneDirected by Xuan Dao

Lighting design by Mai Thao NguyenCostume design by Jessica Francois

Set design by Linh Phuong Tran

Script

Act I:

- Dramatic situation is entirely ordinary and both characters are dangerously close to being stock figures

- Cliff and Rose are the protagonist, both are ‘woolgatherer’ as against the painful realities of their rather gritty existences

- They start the play by making romantic connection, budding relationship, where tender passion can decentralize into violent hostility at any moment

- Using metaphor of birds to illustrate Rose’s spirit

Theme

Fantasy - loses touch with reality

Love – when the couple got beyond those qualities, they found a mutual susceptibility and longing

Style

Comic romance

- Cliff’s taunts are not uncharitable and the contrast between the two creates comic conflict in the “Odd Couple” vein

- Rose’s loveliness and Cliff’s rugged independence were probably the initial attractants.

Casting

Rachel McAdams plays as Rose

- Grace and enthusiasm

- Brings a nuance emotionally to her characterization

Channing Tatum plays as Cliff

- Good looking guy with six-pack

- He expresses his rising frustration with control and credulity

- Sustain their American accents flawlessly and consistently

RehearsalsRachel McAdams is unfailingly real and sincere in her precise preservation of the the balance between hopelessly wretched and comically nutty

Channing Tatum travels around those hazards, presenting a degree of manly gruffness blended with a delightfully charming presence

Both actors create convincing characters

Their generosity of spirit in contributing all proceeds

They deserve high admiration for the attentiveness required to bring William Mastrosimone’s script to life with the audience so close.

Light Design

Visibility and Form

Light bulbs – high side light, on the top help audiences focus on two actors and help shape the form of the actors from another perspective angle.

Lamp – side light, on the table of Rose’ room so the audiences could see the actors’ faces more clearly.

Visual composition and Reinforcing

To help the audiences focus on the story that Rose tells Cliff about her past. The composition of large area of the light in Rose’ room turn focus into Rose and Cliff.

Spotlight : creating mood and contribute feeling for the audiences

Time and place

Black curtain on the back wall represent night time

Lamp, bed, table represent the room and indoor.

Rhyme and MoodColor lights when the scene meet its climax as Rose tells Cliff that she got raped.

Violin sounds

Light color slowly faded and become dimmed lights at the end.

Set Design

Set Design

Scene Design

The play begin at an efficiency apartment where the single bed lied next to a board-up window hidden cheap curtains.

On the other side of the bed is a small table go along with an old wooden chair.

Across the bed is a closet which face with a door that leading to the hallway.

Mood and Style The scene has effectively conveyed the dark and furnished environment in which Rose has lived her loneliness life.

With a board-up window with the bare walls which conveyed the outcast feeling of the room which Rose shut people out of her life.

Realistic Theatre Selected and reproduced onstage an actual room from an apartment, which included wallpaper, light fixtures, furniture, etc.

The room would be resemble, but not duplicate, its real-life counterpart.

Locale and Period

The play occurred around in the 90s at an apartment of a small town of South Philadelphia.

The Design Concept

Supple work with these two complex performers to create a perfect performance that include way of speaking during the 20th century.

And the concept must be instructed by the director that would match with the script.

Costume Design: RoseRose is modest and lonely so she will wear clothes that almost completely cover her body

She is at home and should be dressed comfortably

She wears a men’s sweater from her old roommate

It will be a plain color because of her modesty

The sweater will appear old She has had it for a significant time

She does not have money to upgrade or repair her clothing

Play was created in 1979 and produced in 1981

Clothing will be slightly adapted for today’s time period as the setting at the beginning says “now”

Costume Design: Rose

Makeup will be simple and minimal

No money to afford

Hair will be disheveled but not completely messy

She lives alone and works in a candy shop by herself

She will not be wearing any jewelry

She is modest and cannot affordShe wears an old men’s sweater

Costume Design: Rose

She will wear jeans that are loose

She eats food that is thrown away

She is thin

Old tennis shoesTo accompany the men’s sweater and loose jeans

Costume Design: Cliff

Slightly dirty shirt without sleeves

Spends time in truck

Maybe tried to look under hood of truck

Simple, yet sarcastic attitude

Costume Design: Cliff

Hiking bootsSturdy for truck rides

Thick for warmth if sleeping in truck

Old

Costume Design: Cliff

Tattered and slightly baggy jeans

Thick jeans for warmth and sturdiness when driving

Movement on stage

Comfortable for actor

Comfortable for driving trucks

Costume Design: Cliff

Makeup will be added for a “dirty” look

Basically lives in truck

Makes few stops

From truck breaking down

The Woolgatherer

Arena Theater Houston

June 28th to July 5th, 2014

The Autumn/Winter tour

Showtime starts at 2:30 pm