ksunderconstruction

//Under Construction// Critical Essay

With loud music, expressionist acting, and constant scene changes, the play, //Under Construction// is very versatile. This experimental piece sought to make the audience feel uncomfortable, so it is a piece for mature audiences. //Under Construction// challenges the audience to reconsider their ideas of the American Dream, and scrutinizes our current society’s ideals.

Being that this play was very versatile with many scene and situation changes, it seemed that there was more of an overall theme rather than an overall plot. This made the play interesting; however, did make the play hard to follow at times. All the scenes fit under the idea that our society faces many corrupt issues, and that not everyone has the same American Dream. Despite this, the scenes did little to flow together. There seemed a lack of seamlessness between different scenes. Often a particular scene, such as the masturbating scene, stunned the audience and then the actors quickly moved into another scene that is not related to the preceding. This I felt took away from the overall message, and did not target the audience who most are unfamiliar with experimental theatre.

The mood of the play was overall dreary and uncomfortable. Almost all of the scenes were judging the issues of our society. These issues that they chose such as rape, prejudice, and loneliness are problems that some Americans face everyday. Being that these issues are not particularly pleasant, the overall tone of the play was negative. This made the piece interesting because it was out of the ordinary. But it also was exhausting. I say this because it felt like the messages were trying to attack the audience rather than inform them, and sitting through a play solely about negatively attacking the society was off putting after a while. The other characteristic describing the mood of the play was uncomfortable. This, in my opinion, was the best and most interesting aspect of the piece. Overall the messages and subjects they were presenting are things that most of us are aware of, but many of us never have had personal contact with people facing these problems. The actors made the situation real for the audience and made the audience experience how uncomfortable the issue is along with the actor portraying the victim.

The actors in this play did a phenomenal job. Honestly, because of their portrayal of the different situations, I recommended this play to many people. The actors were able to hold character so well, that at times I forgot that they were playing a role. One scene that sticks out to me as being wonderful acting was the scene where the three characters, an Asian- American female, a white male, and a African- American female, all told their “personal” stories. These stories were stories of the prejudice and troubles their character was facing. From alcoholism to racism to LGBTQ queries, the actors expressed these messages so powerfully and emotionally. Their expressions took the audience to a new level of understanding, and pushed the audience to understand that not everyone’s American Dream involves a white picket fence. Rather for these characters, acceptance and healing was their American Dream.

The characters, overall, were very versatile. In the beginning of the play, the actors all portray different roles in the ideals of a “typical” American family. However, these characters quickly switch into characters like band members and teenaged girls. I felt like having the characters switch so often was an interesting idea and was done well. The actors were able to effectively play the roles of the characters in the different scenes well enough that the audience could quickly pick up on what was going on. But one of the most important elements to effectively transition between the new characters’ stories were the variety of scene changes throughout the show.

Although basic, the different scenes best helped keep a flow during the play. Two sets stand out particularly in my mind as well done and moving. The first is the props used to describe the raping of the three different girls. The set consisted of black boxes stacked in the middle of the stage and a simple light swinging from the roof. This was very well done in my opinion because it gave the set an eerie feeling. This was important because the characters were facing a situation that was uncomfortable and scary. The set helped emphasize this and made the audience draw their attention. The second scene I thought was done well was the scene where most of the actors were behind the plastic curtain. All the audience could see was the silhouettes of their figures and their hands pressed up against the curtain. I loved this scene because it was so different and reminded me of the Indian shadow puppets. This gave me the idea that they were trying to portray the dehumanization of many of these issues and how restricting they are. It also came across to me as a way to neutralize the characters to get the message across that may of these issues could face anyone of us.

What is the American Dream anyways? The play, //Under Construction//, urges the audience to reflect on their ideas of the American Dream, and pushes the audience to understand that not everyone’s dream is the same. By making the audience feel uncomfortable, it makes the play unforgettable. I did feel, however, that this piece was presented to the wrong audience. But, I do believe that it was a great opportunity to experience such a risky and experimental piece.