If I had been asked to produce Act 2 Scene 5. I would use light, sound and scenery. This is essay is to show how I would set it out.
The scenery will show where each character is standing in the play.
The play is set in the 1600’s. The scenery will be in the gardens of Olivia’s house and will be set in the daytime. When Malvolio picks up the ‘love’ letter birds will start flying around his head and around the tree where the Knights are to show the audience that somebody is watching Malvolio.
The Characters costumes will show what standing they have in the scene.
The Knights and will be wearing grand clothes to show that they are Sirs but Fabian will be wearing less spectacular clothes. Malovolio will be wearing boring unimaginative clothes showing he is dull and a puritan.
The lighting of the scene will be varied according to which character the light would be on. This is to give the audience an idea who is the main character in the act and what they see around them.
In Act 2 Scene 5 I would have a brighter light shining on Malvolio. Also on the three knights Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Fabian I would shine a bright light on the tree but a darker light on the Knights themselves. This would therefore give the effect of Malvolio being the main character. The light shining on the tree and darker on the Knights gives the impression that they are hiding in the trees shade and that Malvolio can only see the tree. It also tells us that it is daytime.
The sound effects will reflect what at that moment in time is going on in the play. The music will also show what sort of scene the production is showing.
In Act 2 Scene 5 the sound effects will be birds singing to show how Malvolio is feeling when he is getting to understand what the letter is about. When the Knights are laughing the sound effects will be mischievous. The birds singing shows that Malvolio is in the garden and in a joyful mood.
The music in the scene will show what each character is feeling at the moment in time.
In Act 2 Scene 5 I would have 1600 love music in the background, which speeds up when Malvolio starts to think Olivia loves him. The music will be jolly when the focus is on the Knights. This shows the different interpretations the characters get from hearing the letter. The Jolly music show the Knights are having a good time.
The facial expressions of the characters will show what the person is feeling at the time in his thoughts to put more emphasis on what there emotions are experiencing at the time.
Malvolio when he first picks up the letter will be concerned with what it inside the letter which soon seems to a puzzled look as he is trying to figure out what the letter means and then to joy when he thinks that Olivia ‘loves’ him. The Knights will be hoping that the plan works with a worried but excited look on their faces which soon turns to smiles when thay realise that the plans has worked better that originally planned.
The characters movements will show what they are feeling and if they want to keep a low profile or want the world to know of their happiness. Malvolio when he realises the letter is for him will jump for joy while the knights who are hiding for cover will make quiet and stealthy movements to show that they are hiding form him.
Overall my production will be full of life and atmosphere so that the audience stay interested in what is going on in the scene.
