Staging Evening Primrose

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 11/23/14 at 2:45pm

I'm considering asking for the permission to perform Evening Primrose in a one-act festival. Before I go crazy trying to get the rights, I would like to discuss how one might stage this piece in a fairly small space without much of a set. Can I get any suggestions?

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 11/23/14 at 3:42pm

Being that the setting is a department store at night, you could likely get away with a pretty minimal set design. Perhaps some columns, and a plain square stand as the basis, with a selection of props added to evoke different departments. Leave the rest in shadow like all the lights are turned out, and it could be very atmospheric.

Also I think if I were staging it I'd keep the color to a minimum to maintain that black & white "Twilight Zone" aesthetic. Maybe have Charles in some color at first but then in the next scene move him to black & white too like the others.

Updated On: 11/23/14 at 03:42 PM

[temms]

Posted: 11/23/14 at 7:16pm

Wasn't the show originally broadcast in color, but we only have the B&W kinescope today?

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/23/14 at 7:20pm

Yup, the color master has never been found.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 11/23/14 at 9:57pm

I think I'll keep it primarily black and white so that it feel more like a Twilight Zone episode. I'll probably use just a piano, but I'm a bit stuck on how I should stage the ending.
I figured that the set could be made up of clothing racks that get moved throughout to form different parts of the department store.
Updated On: 11/23/14 at 09:57 PM