ABDESIGN

Andrea Beltran // Words, Words, Words // 1) What is meant to be the relationship of the performers to the audience? Since the chimps are in a sort of laboratory setting in which they are observed by Dr.Rosenbaum and others, the audience takes on the same role of observation. It becomes more of a presentational show simply meant to entertain the audience.  2) Are the performers and audience meant to occupy the same room? The audience is meant to feel as in they are in the same room as the monkeys, so, yes, the performers and audience are meant to occupy the same space. 3) What is the period of the dramatic action? How does that effect movement? There is no specified period for the play to take place. It can pretty much occur in any period as long as typewriters are available.  4) What is the geographical location of the action? There is no specification, once again, as the where the play takes place. We simply know that the monkeys are in some kind of cage in a lab under observation for an experiment. 5) What time of day is it? Once again, this is unspecified. It can be assumed that it’s during the day since the monkeys are awake and being watched.  6) How are the personalities of the characters reflected in the set, lights, costumes, and music? The characters childish outfits reflect how little control of the situation they have. Swift’s outfit would be a wild to reflect his nature, while Milton’s would be a little more uptight and Kafka’s cute dress would reflect her carefree disposition. The use of the tire swing by Milton reflects his acceptance of the situation. Lights and music are irrelevant because the lights would not change due to it being a lab setting and there is no music. 7) What is the weather? Is it hot or cold? Is it bright or dull? Again, weather does not matter inside a lab, but it’s probably grossly bright due to florescent lab lighting.  8) What is the socio/economic status of the characters? They’re chimps. They don’t have one. 9) What are the occupations of the characters? Well, they’ve been turned into “writers” I presume.  10) How old are the characters? Well, once again, they’re chimps. Age doesn’t really matter. I’d say that Milton’s the oldest though, followed by Swift then Kafka. 11) What is the relationship of the characters to each other? Well, they’re the same species. Beyond that, they probably didn’t know one another until they were thrown into the same cage, but they seem to be getting along just fine.  12) Which characters are to be emphasized? Which are to be subordinated? Milton and Swift are the main emphasis in the play since they have the brunt of the dialogue and Swift plots the revenge while they both try to reason out //Hamlet//. The two keep the play moving along. Kafka is pushed back due to her small amount of contribution to the conversations and her very playful manner. 13) Where are the entrances and exits? The chimps begin on the stage, never leave, and are still there when the lights go out.  14) What are the furniture and property needs of the play and how do they reflect the characters and their actions? The only furniture needs are the typing tables and stools that each of the chimps sit at while working in the lab. Beyond that there is a variety of property needs that includes typewriters, typing paper, wastebaskets overflowing with crumpled paper, a tire swing, a banana, peanuts, ashtrays full of cigarette butts, and an empty cigarette pack. The typewriters and paper represent what the characters are doing in the cage in the first place while the full wastebaskets and ash trays reflect the tedium and repetitiveness that the chimps are up against. The food and cigarettes reflect the means of keeping the chimps happy.