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Compare the Theatrical Techniques and Staging in Act One of Oleanna and Street Car Named Desire

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Compare the theatrical techniques and staging in act one of Oleanna and Street Car Named Desire

The two plays Street car named desire and Oleanna are very different plays in their use of theatrical devices. Tennesse Williams’ play Street Car Named Desire gives us a long description of the New Orleans world its based in. Describing the flats with the name “elysan fields” relating the to heaven despite the appearance of the street that seems “falling apart at the fabric of the seems”, the colour of the sky “tender blue”, even the smell of “bananas and coffee” making the set described seem more exotic with the imagery of plantations. Whilst in David Mamet’s play Oleanna we are simply told how Carol is sitting opposite John who is …show more content…

Oleanna doesn’t seem to include stage directions other than the phone ringing and John either igonoring it or picking it up.

Lighting is also an important theatrical technique used in Street Car Named Desire. It is especially utillised in Almadova’s fim interpretation of the play, as he uses the strong primary coloured lighting pallette throughout. Stanley and the boys are given strong primary colours, shown by what they wear and the description of the room often red and blue. This is excluding Mitch who wears checked or soft colour shirts to highlight his difference to the other men in the play. Whilst Blanche has to hide from the “natural light” and cover it with paper laterns, in an attempt to hide from the cruel reality of life. In Oleanna there is no mention of lighting so again it is up to the audience or director to imagine how the single room would be lit.

Music and sounds are another theatical technique often used is Street Car Named Desire. The blues piano is often heard in the background of act one and throughout the play. Linking to the culture of New Orleans and the political freedom and less disrciminatory nature of the area. There is also the sound of the train that symbolises Stanley and his power and masculinity . The polka tune that blanche hears in her head relating to her past and the “young boy” linking to her happy past, that ends with the sound of a shot. Much like convesation stops with the phone ringing in

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