Directing in Musical Theatre by Deer Joe;

Author:Deer, Joe;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Published: 2014-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

UNIT 6.1.2 Staging questions

Staging musical scenes is not primarily an ornamental process (though the staging might eventually be very attractive). Aesthetic choices are the result of a well-articulated storytelling impulse, an inquiry into the human experience of the scene or song, and an awareness of its tone and style. To that end, directors begin to determine staging by asking a series of simple and revealing questions:

Questionnaire: staging action

1. What is the dramatic action of the scene or song? When we use the term “action,” we mean what the characters do to each other and themselves as a result of their goals, the obstacles they encounter (from others and within themselves) and the actions of those around them. The physics of good drama tells us that when one character takes action, other characters are affected by it and respond in ways that have their own repercussions. That’s what makes the world go round in all drama. Since musical staging is just part of the series of dramatic events unfolding in a musical drama, that staging is going to be filled with action: characters doing things to themselves and others. You’ve already answered this question in Unit 1.5. Go back to that scene/song analysis now, as you’ll apply it to staging choices as we move forward.

2. How can I express the dramatic action through the characters’ physical behavior? Your job, and that of your actors, is to express a cohesive version of the story in ways that are evident to your audience. As obvious as this may sound, it bears repeating, because we must not only suspect the action but see and hear it take place through staging and vocal performance choices. This is not to suggest that you have actors inauthentically indicate feelings. We are amplifying truthful behavior to meet the scale that a moment, and a theatrical space, require.

3. How do I express this action while living in the stylistic world of my show? Once you’ve understood the internal action of a scene or song, you must express it so it seems to live in the world of your musical. If your musical world is gritty and violent, you probably won’t invoke old-fashioned musical comedy staging traditions (unless the writers have done so ironically, as with “Gee, Officer Krupke” in West Side Story). You’ll typically match the worldview of your story to the staging tools you employ. This will help determine the degree of pure performance you encourage, the formality of movement and the general visual and acting aesthetic you adopt. That all adds up to style, which we addressed in Unit 1.7. You may wish to revisit the questionnaires on “Defining worldview” (p. 34) and “Elements of style” (p. 36).

4. How can I express this dramatic action in a way that is aesthetically pleasing? All things being equal, we are seeking to transcend merely prosaic and functional staging to achieve something that is entertaining, visually and aurally pleasant, and artistically satisfying. How we define “pleasant” and “satisfying” has everything to do with the rules of the theatrical world we’re creating.

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