ESDesign

Design Questions

1. Philadelphia is more of a representational play, so there is isn't any audience-actor interaction or any relationship other than the fact that the audience is there to watch the play. 2. I believe they are, but the actors are to be on stage. The actors and the scenery are separate from the audience. 3. The period of dramatic action is between Mark and Al, starting when Mark enters and discusses his day with Al and ending when Al exits the stage. The dramatic action doesn't really affect movement much because there are very few characters that don't move around much. The waitress comes in and out, but that's it. 4. The action takes place in a New York diner. 5. It's presumed to be dinnertime at the diner, because of the dialogue and context of the play. 6. The costumes should reflect the character's personalities, so Al's “California Cool” personality and Mark's “Frazzled” attitude should be shown in their clothes. Also, the waitress should have on a costume that makes her look “Weary.” The lighting should simply be typical diner lighting, which stays the same throughout the play. The set should be a mediocre diner atmosphere, just like a stereotypical New York diner. There isn't any music in Philadelphia. 7. There is no real depiction of weather in this play, but I assume the weather is not too extreme because they don't mention it. It's is probably fairly dull on stage because it is evening...but the diner could have very bright fluorescent lighting. 8. The characters seem like typical middle or working class people, considering the fact that they are eating at an average diner. The waitress is probably lower-middle class. 9. Al had a job in the garment district and Mark's job is not stated directly. The waitress is obviously a waitress. 10. I think all 3 characters are middle aged or a bit younger, considering that Mark flirts with the waitress at the end of the play. 11. Mark and Al are good friends who have known each other for a while. Neither of them know the waitress personally, but she is an important part of the scene. 12. Mark's and Al's characters should be emphasized because the action revolves around them, but the waitress does have some important lines that advance the plot of the play. 13. The waitress and Al are on stage at the beginning of the play, then Mark enters when the waitress exits. The waitress enters again to tell Al he is fired, then exits immediately. She enters again to take Mark's order and exits to place his order in the kitchen. She re-enters with Mark's food. Al exits when he realizes that he is in a Philadelphia and then Mark and the waitress are left on stage at the end of the play. 14. In the diner, there is a table with a red-checkered cloth and two chairs and a specials board, and the waitress should have a pad, pencil, glass of beer, and a plate with a cheese steak on it. These props can reflect the character's personalities by the way they interact with them.