lhunderconstruction

= Review of //Under Construction// (3.5 page Microsoft Word Document) =

// Under Construction // was nothing short of phenomenal. The moving issues with which the audience was confronted aroused intense contemplation about the movements and social issues of American society throughout the ages. I have never felt a theater piece more personally and intensely than this one and I would recommend it to anyone, young or old, from any walk of life, as it evokes serious thought and could perhaps inspire action having to do with the subjects about which people feel most passionate. The fluidity with which the characters were able to change the mood from comical to solemn and back was striking. I could be laughing so hard that my abdomen hurt and then, in minutes, be on the verge of tears. The set was minimal, but used as aptly as I could ever imagine a set being used, highlighting the characters and adding levels to the open space in which the actors worked. The lights as well as the projections helped to emphasize the most prominent aspects of the play and contributed to the overall atmosphere. The music was as useful as any prop in indicating the setting, quickly specifying a change in decade, or underscoring an important topic. All of this would be nothing without the exceptional skills of the actors cast in this piece. Their dedication to their roles, their intense connection to their parts, and diverse sets of abilities all shone through and made the play what it is: a heart wrenching, thought evoking statement about the state of affairs in this country.

The set in this production consisted of some blocks, planks of wood, a cart, a table, and other minimalist objects. The cast used these items in exceptionally creative ways to set the scene. In the opening scene, I was struck by the manner in which the family’s table was set. Only a few wooden boards, a frame really, fashioned a table and the “food” was only pictures printed on sheets of paper supported by pegs in the boards. Some of the costumes were also made in this manner, which, I thought, symbolized the fact that the scene of the “perfect family” surrounding a dinner table for a nice meal together is an empty American dream. This stereotypically ideal family is a flat representation of real life, which is much more complicated and has much more depth. The shedding of the projections of the model American family led perfectly into the progressively more meaningful scenes of American life. In the scene in which a character was rolled out encased in two black boxes, the set perfectly mirrored her monologue about limits, boundaries, and the concept of being inside. This scene challenged the audience to consider what groups or boundaries contain them in their own lives and whether or not these limits are acceptable to them or if they should break out of them. The third most striking use of the set, to me, was the use of three stacked blocks during the dialogue about sex slavery. The actresses’ struggle was visually manifested in their effort to remain in a squatting position throughout the scene. The audience was more readily able to adopt the fears and despair of the characters by seeing their anguish demonstrated in this way. Less scene specifically, the fact that the set did not stand out in any obvious, eye-catching way, helped the audience to focus more on the characters, their actions, and their words, which were the most important elements in this show.

The lighting was used in similar ways to distinguish each scene and focus the audience’s attention on the important aspects of every tableau, dance, or dialogue. Towards the beginning of the show, each scene was supposed to symbolize typical, everyday scenes in the archetype American life. In these scenes, the lighting was fairly flat and simply illuminated the stage as a whole. This reflected the fact that there was nothing especially significant about the life reflected in these scenes. As more personal insights were shared with the audience, spotlights were used to show distinctiveness of certain characters and establish their individuality. In a scene that I have previously mentioned that had to do with sex slavery. A single spotlight is used, which hangs over the three stacked blocks that the women use to support themselves. A masked man swings the light to create a bewildering and disorienting effect on the audience that reflects the inner-dialogue of the women. The result is a realistic situation in which each member of the audience can place himself in order to feel the message more genuinely and personally. Plastic sheeting that is hung from the ceiling around the back of the stage area provides the perfect backdrop for back-lighting. In one scene, the shadows cast by each character from this form of back-lighting suggest fallen soldiers and the desperation of Americans as they struggle through the loss of loved ones to the war. Projection of iconic scenes from American history and of quotes relating to specific movements helped provide a more general view of the issues at hand. The characters then gave more personal accounts of these issues and movements to which the audience can better relate. I think that these montages and videos helped to expand the issues to make them more inclusive and complete so that the smaller, individualized stories translated more smoothly to widespread cultural concerns. Additionally, the first slideshow's quotes about the decades of American history prepared the audience to witness a commentary on American society through the ages and the human rights and political issues that we have, as a people, faced.

The diverse arrangements of music from different decades had a similar effect to that of the projections. Most songs used in this play were iconic songs from specific time periods. The choice to change the arrangement of some songs to give them a more somber tone changed the mood of the song to fit the scene. The female quartet’s talents helped to customize the songs in order to accentuate the meaning of the words. Furthermore, the arrangement of the quartet helped to give the effect of surround sound, helping the audience to feel enveloped in the piece. Each character’s unique musical talents were used to bring new life to some songs as they played the instruments live. I was especially touched by the live performance of “Taps” after the apparent death of the soldier. Somehow, the fact that the song was performed live made it seem more earnest than if it had simply been played over the speakers. Live performance also gave flexibility to the compositions that prerecorded music would have limited.

I would not dare complete this review without mentioning the exceptional cast. It is obvious that they completely invested themselves in their roles and felt strongly about each monologue, each back story, and each issue. The facial expressions, exaggerated movements, and wide ranges of vocalization all helped to intensify the characters’ actions and words. The actors also displayed wide ranges of musical and dancing abilities, which helped to give the show a greater depth and sensation. Overall, I thought they were perfectly cast and that no one could find a more gifted and capable group to play these parts.

As far as I know, my viewing of //Under Construction// was my first encounter with experimental theater. I was mightily impressed by the manner in which the actors and director used the props, lights, and music to create a flexible and ever-changing environment that could, in one moment, be a battlefield and, in the next, be a girl’s bedroom where a sleepover is occurring. The swiftness and gracefulness with which the show transformed from comical to melancholy or optimistic to miserable was extraordinary. The audience was never left to ponder a subject for a long enough period that they would cease to feel the intensity or urgency of the matter, but were instead taken on a roller coaster of emotions, which made the feelings so much more poignant. I appreciated every moment of the show and was touched by the messages presented through it. I believe that it will inspire action and remind us, as Americans, of our history and of what should be our objectives as we move forward as individuals and as a nation.