Casanova
scenic designer
Casanova was the final show of my Senior year at UMass which took place in our larger proscenium theater. The show, written by Constance Congdon (who was present for a large deal of the construction and rehearsal process), deals with the life both past and present of well-known seducer Giacomo Casanova.
The show moves fluidly from present to past events, back and forth weaving memory with fantasy of two main characters Casanova and Bobo who are on stage for practically the whole show. There is also the ever-present trickster, the wraith Theres, the ghost of one of Casanova’s first lovers. In my design I wanted to portray the importance of these three characters. The set pieces of Bobo’s bed and Casanova’s carriage are present throughout the entirety of the show, it is the places in which they recollect the past. The stage space between them is where the flowing actions of memory from present to past take place. Throughout the show there is a commentary of the decline of the grandeur of society which I wanted to portray with my set pieces and their broken, skeleton-like nature. This decision was also made in order to give Theres more places to climb and hide.
All of the set pieces are the skeletons of something once grand -- a large archway broken down and the frame of a carriage which served a dual purpose of a jungle gym for Theres.
The backdrop is made completely a voile, flowy and extravagant much like the flowing of memory from present to past. This was chosen also because of its ability to capture light well.
The show moves fluidly from present to past events, back and forth weaving memory with fantasy of two main characters Casanova and Bobo who are on stage for practically the whole show. There is also the ever-present trickster, the wraith Theres, the ghost of one of Casanova’s first lovers. In my design I wanted to portray the importance of these three characters. The set pieces of Bobo’s bed and Casanova’s carriage are present throughout the entirety of the show, it is the places in which they recollect the past. The stage space between them is where the flowing actions of memory from present to past take place. Throughout the show there is a commentary of the decline of the grandeur of society which I wanted to portray with my set pieces and their broken, skeleton-like nature. This decision was also made in order to give Theres more places to climb and hide.
All of the set pieces are the skeletons of something once grand -- a large archway broken down and the frame of a carriage which served a dual purpose of a jungle gym for Theres.
The backdrop is made completely a voile, flowy and extravagant much like the flowing of memory from present to past. This was chosen also because of its ability to capture light well.